Glenn Zottola

Classic Arrangements for Alto Saxophone

Includes actual solo transcriptions and CD containing complete and accompaniment versions. Inspired by Frank Sinatra.

Any album that pays homage to the music associated with the 'Chairman of the Board, ' must be carefully designed for Frank Sinatra is a one-of-kind icon leaving his mark on American culture and history. Glenn Zottola's Alto/Sinatra does exactly that, performing the music of Sinatra in an instrumental album where the saxophonist plays the featured role, a vocal role of sorts, fitting within his concept of 'singing through the horn, ' where on this album - through his alto saxophone voice - Zottola becomes Sinatra. Zottola grew up in a musical family listening to Sinatra and watching his TV shows during the 60s. The voicing through the horn concept of this album was born in the early years where his father, a classical music conductor, played opera music at home leaving an impact on the young future musician.

Alto saxophonist Charlie 'Yardbird' Parker served as one of Zottola's main influences throughout his career, leading to his tribute album Reflections of Charlie Parker but, it was Parker's playing in big band settings that inspired Zottola to integrate this approach to the Sinatra project. Thus is born Alto/Sinatra, an instrumental jazz album of music from the Sinatra songbook. The main feature: an alluring lead alto saxophone, the support: an amazing big band topped off by an occasional string section - all producing a sophisticated mature jazz sound that the Chairman himself would be proud of.

Zottola is one of the few jazz musicians to have had the pleasure of performing with Sinatra and did so on television playing alongside saxophonist Tommy Newsome, trumpeter Edward 'Snooky' Young and the entire Tonight Show NBC Orchestra in a one-session dream come true. Deciding what to record from the lengthy Sinatra repertoire was not easy however, noting that Sinatra used some of the greatest arrangers for his music, Zottola chose a few of the legend's greatest hits with arrangements from such song masters like Nelson Riddle, Quincy Jones, Billy May, Don Costa and Torrie Zito.

Educating the audience with Gene De Paul's classic 'Teach Me Tonight, ' Glenn kicks off the music in strong fashion delivering one alto solo after another as if he were voicing the words of the song with each note. Sammy Cahn - who wrote the lyrics - penned a verse for Sinatra's 1984 recording of the song for his L. A. Is My Lady album with Quincy Jones Orchestra. The 1946 Matt Dennis popular standard 'Angel Eyes' is delivered here with an arrangement from Nelson Riddle providing a stage for Zottola's tender alto to sing lightly on one string-backed beautiful rendition of the standard. In 1971, Sinatra closed his then farewell concert with the song. Thankfully, his retirement lasted a mere two years.