This collection of songs is derived from the classic recording of 1956 by Frank Sinatra with the orchestrations of master arranger Nelson Riddle.
When Irv Kratka, the founder of Music Minus One asked me to do a trumpet version of Sinatra/Riddle collaboration I got very excited because back in 1956 while stationed at Bolling Air Force base in Washington, DC with the Airmen Of Note, the USAF Glenn Miller Band, I literally wore out that 33 1/3 rpm LP record! (If you remember those long-playing discs you're either a senior like me or an audiophile extraordinaire.) And here am I more than a half century later having recorded my renditions with the very same, unique backgroud tracks!
These are purposely not 100% literal transcriptions in order for the notation not to be overwhelmingly complex. I wanted to be "user-friendly," so with that said, I suggest you listen carefully for the subtleties in rhythmic nuances especially. A major part of your training is to recognize these nuances in order to add them to your 'tool box' for ballad styling.
And that brings me to the title of this volume, "The Fine Art Of Ballad Playing." Those of you who have had formal trumpet education will recall that an essential part of the Arban Book is, "The Art of Phrasing," which with its 150 Classic and Popular Melodies had a similar purpose to my series of standards. The concept of expression, dynamics and phrasing remain all important.
In all of these renditions, I chose to be "faithful to Frank," who had a unique way of rarely straying far from the actual melody, especially on ballads, while always putting his "Sinatra Stamp" on it! Very simply put, think lyrics and "story" and that will guide you through the flow of the melody with it's "peaks and valleys." If you've not done this kind of study or training before, please realize it's totally okay to imitate and that's where the great value of Music Minus One comes in.
