Because he was world renowned as a dancer and quite popular as a movie actor, Fred Astaire has tended to be underrated (if not completely overlooked) as a jazz singer. Although not really an improviser, Astaire's phrasing always swung and his occasional vocals on record were usually a joy. This two-CD set is something special for it features Astaire with six members of Jazz at the Philharmonic: tenor saxophonist Flip Phillips, trumpeter Charlie Shavers, pianist Oscar Peterson, guitarist Barney Kessel, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer Alvin Stoller. Astaire sings 34 swing standards (many of which he had originally introduced in movies), dances on three ad-lib numbers, and sits out on the instrumental "Jam Session"; the musicians have plenty of opportunities to stretch out. The biggest surprise to this classic deluxe box (which was originally four-LPs) is that Fred Astaire did not do similar projects more often throughout his career. Highly recommended.
by Scott Yanow
Tracklist 1:
1
Isn't This a Lovely Day? 4:26
Irving Berlin
2
Puttin' on the Ritz 2:51
Irving Berlin
3
I Used to Be Color Blind 4:14
Irving Berlin
4
The Continental 3:28
Con Conrad / Herbert Magidson
5
Let's Call the Whole Thing Off 4:36
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
6
Change Partners 3:13
Irving Berlin
7
'S Wonderful 2:56
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
8
Lovely to Look At 3:26
Dorothy Fields / Jerome Kern / Jimmy McHugh
9
They All Laughed 2:55
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
10
Cheek to Cheek 5:39
Irving Berlin
11
Steppin' Out with My Baby 2:22
Irving Berlin
12
The Way You Look Tonight 2:57
Dorothy Fields / Jerome Kern
13
I've Got My Eyes on You 2:57
Cole Porter
14
Dancing in the Dark 4:45
Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz
15
The Carioca 4:48
Edward Eliscu / Gus Kahn / Vincent Youmans
16
Nice Work If You Can Get It 2:07
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
17
New Sun in the Sky 2:27
Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz
18
I Won't Dance 3:01
Dorothy Fields / Otto Harbach / Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern / Jimmy McHugh
19
Fast Dances 2:24
Tracklist 2:
1
Top Hat, White Tie and Tails 4:00
Irving Berlin
2
No Strings (I'm Fancy Free) 2:54
Irving Berlin / Richard Rodgers
3
I Concentrate on You 2:43
Cole Porter
4
I'm Putting All My Eggs in One Basket 2:54
Irving Berlin
5
A Fine Romance 3:43
Dorothy Fields / Jerome Kern
6
Night and Day 5:22
Cole Porter
7
Fascinating Rhythm 2:41
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
8
I Love Louisa 2:40
Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz
9
Slow Dances 2:55
10
Medium Dances 2:01
11
They Can't Take That Away from Me 4:22
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
12
You're Easy to Dance With 3:22
Irving Berlin
13
A Needle in a Haystack 2:22
Con Conrad / Herbert Magidson
14
So Near and Yet So Far 3:18
Cole Porter
15
A Foggy Day 4:00
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
16
Oh, Lady Be Good 5:01
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
17
I'm Building Up to an Awful Letdown 3:59
Fred Astaire / Johnny Mercer
18
Not My Girl 3:37
Fred Astaire / Desmond Carter / V. Phillips
19
Jam Session 6:34
