Search - The New Four Freshmen, The Lew Anderson Big Band :: Voices in Standards

VOCALS AND BAND SWINGING BEYOND BELIEF.

donbojazz@aol.com | North Providence, Rhode Island | 09/04/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"IF YOU ARE ONE OF THE MANY WHO THOUGHT THE FOUR FRESHMEN WENT DOWN "THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED", YOU SIMPLY MUST GIVE YOURSELF THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR WHAT THEY ARE NOW DOING. THIS WAS RECORDED WITH THE LOU ANDERSON BIG BAND OUT OF NEW YORK WITH SOME OF THE FINEST STUDIO MUSICIANS IN THE BIG APPLE. NOTICE THE LINEUP OF SONGS AND IF SOME SEEM TO REMIND YOU OF A BLUE EYED VOCALIST NAMED FRANCIS ALBERT, THAT IS NOT HAPPENSTANCE. THE ALBUM WAS ORIGINALLY GOING TO BE CALLED A TRIBUTE TO OLD BLUE EYES, HOWEVER, SOMEONE CONNECTED TO THE SINATRA PEOPLE REFUSED TO GRANT PERMISSION TO USE THAT TITLE, HENCE, VOICES IN STANDARDS. THE ARRANGEMENTS ARE BY THE FRESHMEN THEMSELVES AND DO JUSTICE TO THE MEMORY OF FRANK SINATRA. HAD HE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR THIS CD, HE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE ENJOYED IT AT LEAST AS MUCH AS SOME OF THE OTHER ARTISTS WHO PAID TRIBUTE TO HIM BY RECORDING TUNES HE MADE FAMOUS. THE FRESHMEN DO HIS MUSIC WITH GREAT RESPECT TOWARDS HIM AND ONCE AGAIN SHOW WHY THEY HAVE BEEN UPON THE SCENE FOR 51 YEARS. MUSICIANS WHO SING, NOT SINGERS WHO FANCY THEMSELVES AS MUSICIANS. A MUST HAVE FOR EVERY LOVER OF SINATRA, THE FOUR FRESHMEN OR BIG BAND MUSIC."

WHAT AN UPDATE!

William S. Cherry | Galveston, TX USA | 03/09/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When you think of the Four Freshmen, you can't help but think of "Graduation Day," "Charmaine," "Day by Day," and the zillion others that became their standards of the 50s.I found his new CD by accident. It begins with the Sinatra hit, "Come Fly with Me." The harmony is unmistakenly Freshmen, but the selections as well as the ochestrations are full and awesome. No Freshmen playing solo trombones, etc. If you like the Four Freshmen, this CD could easily become your favorite. I've had my copy about 5 years, and it has kept its place on my 101 CD player the entire time. There probably aren't 5 others that have been there that long."

Seems NOT like old times.

G. E. Fox | Devon, England | 10/14/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I didnt know the freshmen were STILL going. Obviously there has been a change in the lineup (i'd love to know who )and , because they used to be the ultimate vocal group in the 60's, they arent as good as then. Nevertheless, they still knock spots off the socalled groups of today."