Live at The Meadowlands by Frank Sinatra (CD, May-2009, Concord Jazz)

In March, 1986, Frank Sinatra returned to his native New Jersey, and performed at a concert at the Meadowlands. Although Sinatra was older, and may not have had the “pipes” he had in the 50’s and 60’s, it was a monumental moment in entertainment history. This previously unreleased concert, (minus three songs that didn’t fit on the CD) has been long anticipated by Sinatra-philes (like myself) for years. The twenty-one digitally re-mastered live concert recordings reflect the career of Sinatra, starting with his opening with “Without A Song” from his days with Tommy Dorsey, to his cover of Bobby Darin’s “Mack the Knife” that closes the concert. As someone who has seen Frank Sinatra perform in concert twice (1988 and 1990) and experienced the magic when Old Blue Eyes came on stage, it’s my opinion that this recording captures the electricity and excitement of a live Sinatra concert. Previous recordings of Sinatra with Dean and Sammy in Las Vegas and Chicago give us a glimpse of the swinging “ring-a-ding-ding” Sinatra, but this concert at the Meadowlands captures the older, but wiser, Sinatra in the September of his years. Surrounded by reknown musicians Tony Mottola (guitar); Bill Miller (piano); Don Baldini (upright bass); Irv Cottler (drums), Sinatra takes us on a dazzling journey reflecting the musical career of the greatest male vocalist of our time. This is a “must have” for Sinatra-philes and music lovers!