Sinatra at Ease, Swinging Hard
A relaxed, confident session where Sinatra sounds like he's having genuine fun with the material.
By 1959, Frank Sinatra had already spent years perfecting his craft — the phrasing, the control, the ability to make a lyric land exactly where it needed to. Sinatra's Swingin' Session!!! finds him in familiar territory, working with well-chosen standards in an upbeat, playful mood. This isn't a reinvention or a risk. It's Sinatra doing what he'd proven he could do: sing swinging big band numbers with ease and style.
What makes this session worth hearing is the straightforward joy of it. The tempos move, the arrangements give him room to breathe, and there's no sense of strain or overreaching. He's not trying to convince you of anything deeper than the simple pleasure of a good tune well sung. The album sits comfortably in his larger body of work — neither his definitive statement nor a minor footnote, but a solid example of what he did best during these years. If you're already familiar with his classic Capitol recordings or his later work for Reprise, this gives you another angle on the same essential talent.
For someone new to Sinatra, The Capitol Years or his Columbia recordings offer more dramatic entry points. But if you've already heard him at his peak and want to sample more of his mainstream work from this era, Sinatra's Swingin' Session!!! delivers exactly what the title promises — a singer in command of his instrument, backed by professional arrangements, swinging through a night's worth of good songs.
Who's playing
Red Mitchelldouble bass
Joe Comfortdouble bass
George Robertsbass trombone
Bill Millerpiano
Al Violaguitar
Buddy Collettesaxophone
Chuck Gentrysaxophone
Harry Kleesaxophone
Ronny Langsaxophone
Champ Webbsaxophone
Cappy Lewistrumpet
Vito N. Manganotrumpet
George Seabergtrumpet
Shorty Sherocktrumpet
Carroll Lewistrumpet
Gail Martintrombone
Pullman “Tommy” Pedersontrombone
Jimmy Priddytrombone
Tommy Shepardtrombone
George Arustrombone
Alvin Stollerdrums
Irv Cottlerdrums
Frank Flynnpercussion
Emil Richardspercussion
Victor Arnoviolin
Victor Bayviolin
Alex Bellerviolin
Harold Dicterowviolin
Ben Gillviolin
Ossip Giskincello
Kathryn Julyeharp
Murray Kellnerviolin
Dan Lubeviolin
Edgar Lustgartencello
Paul Robynviola
Barbara Simonsviola
Eleanor Slatkincello
Felix Slatkinviolin
Gerald Vinciviolin
Kurt Dieterleviolin
Alvin Dinkinviola
Jacques Gasselinviolin
William Greenreeds
Stanley Harrisviola
Plas Johnsonreeds
Armand Kaproffcello
Louis Kaufmanviolin
Joseph Livotiviolin
Mischa Russellviolin
Wilbur Schwartzreeds
William Weissviolin
Nathan Rossviolin
Paul Shureviolin
Where next?
More by Frank Sinatra
Songs for Swingin’ Lovers! 1956
Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely 1958
Ring-a-Ding Ding! 1961
September of My Years 1965
The musicians on this record
Their own records, close in time
