Retro crooner Frank Lamphere will be the guest vocalist with “Spiral” on the gallo Wine stage Sunday June 26, 2011.
Spiral includes musicians: Mike Frost, Demos Petropoulos and Mike Jeffers. The set will begin at 5 p.m with Frank joining the band around 6:30 p.m
Wow, songs I have heard literally hundreds if not thousands of times over the last 30+ years, played in a particular order in my I Tunes library really stopped me in my late night “computering” tracks. The time is ten till’ eleven. My wife Daniela has gone to bed and baby Deanna has already been asleep since around 9:30 p.m. Having to write up a contract for a deck repair job, that came in yesterday I opt for some background music. Slip on the headphones and quick scroll from the “A”s to the “F”‘s stop! Frank Sinatra, good! Baubles Bangles and Beads from the first Jobim album about 1966. (I just checked. It was January ’67. That kind of seemingly trivial stuff is important to us Sinatraphiles) Anyhow, it was a good choice for doing some paperwork. I type and ten songs have already played. The entire Jobim album with its two and three and a half minute songs. All of a sudden I am struck by the sounds of what I believe is Bill Miller playing the intro to one of my top five Sinatra favorites (one which I also perform) Drinking Again. My god, how long as it been since I’ve heard this recording? Two maybe three weeks! Too long in any event. This is the epitome of a “saloon song”; I think every bit the equal of Angel Eyes and One For My Baby. The great Will Friedwald may have written that in Sinatra, The Song Is You, I don’t recall exactly. I just know I enjoy the heck out of Frank’s vocals and Claus Ogerman’s strings.
This is followed by a tune from the same session Something Stupid. This is also among my favorites. Sure, Nancy got the credit but its Frank singing the lead. I have enjoyed this song since I was a little kid. I’m sure that it was still being played on the radio in the early 70′s; for me to be so familiar with it by the time I bought my first Frank Sinatra’s Greatest Hits in 1982. This was not a highly regarded song nor was a lot of his output from this time period. I beg to differ. To listen to Frank Sinatra from about 1962 through I’d say 1968 or ’69 is to hear the master. A voice less than perfect but very rich and full of character. There is a vocal maturity that he had that more than made up for an occasional bad note. This was the supreme story teller. In this regard I think the only person at that time that was in his league was Tony Bennett.
Returning to the listening experience. I didn’t mention that in my I Tunes library the selections playing are in the order that they were recorded; since they were copied from my Complete Reprise Collection CDs. So, there is obviously a real consistency in his sound. After the guitars, heavy pop beat and beautiful pop strings of Something Stupid, here comes You Are There. Another killer! Very dramatic orchestral introduction of the song. It’s the theme from the movie The Naked Runner which happens to be a very enjoyable film, also. Frank has so much attitude in the films at that time. Had to hit the pause button before the vocal started. Pour a nice glass of red wine to add to the moment. Unfortunately there was not even a quarter of a glass of wine left in the bottle. I’ve got to say that I have rarely enjoyed a glass (Okay, an eighth of a glass) of red wine as much as this. Sinatra displayed some effective vocal power on this one. The tune is utterly haunting! Adding to the listening experience is the oboe or bassoon coming from the left side of the headphones while strings and piano exit the right. You just don’t get that sound with two speakers four feet apart and aimed directly at you.
Next is The World We Knew (Over and Over). Of course being on the Reprise Greatest Hits album, I’ve played it a half million times and liked it, every time. When I think about the hippies, the Vietnam War, and all the crappy music that was popular at this time, these performances jump out as being diamonds in the rough. It’s really sad that this music was quickly becoming passé at this time. From here my concentration was broken as I had completed typing the deck contract and was thinking of putting my thoughts down in writing. However I just had the fortune of listening to about forty minutes of a high art form. I was emotionally transported to another dimension. Where the only thing that mattered for a few moments was soaking up the sounds created by The Chairman of the Board and his arrangers and musicians. I’d been to that dimension before but more often than not, of the many vocalists that I have enjoyed listening to, over the years, the one that takes me there most often is Frank Sinatra. I’d bet millions of others have had this kind of Frank Sinatra experience. I’m grateful that I have the musical tastes that I have. There is so much to enjoy. And to enjoy Frank Sinatra one doesn’t have to go deaf from the excessive volume of distorted guitars or suffer through listening to bad poetry and poor grammar.
-Frank Lamphere
Next Monday November 01, Frank will be recording some original compositions at Studiomedia recording studio in Evanston, Illinois. The four to five originals will make their way on to an extended play CD. The recording band will be a star studded group that will include: pianist Jim Ryan, bassist Jim Cox, drummer Bob Rummage, trumpeter Art Davis and Eric Schneider will play alto and tenor.
Last Thursday’s (9/30/10) “Senior Prom” at Heritage Woods of Batavia an assisted living community, was a smashing success says the event’s cooridinator Laurie Guidry. For singer-entertainer Frank Lamphere hired to entertain at the event, it was a musical reunion of sorts. Frank’s regular accompanist, pianist Larry Harris who is also the director of liturgy and music at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Aurora was flanked by high profile drummer Rusty Jones. Rusty who was legendary pianist George Shearing’s drummer for a number of years, along with Harris, was a part of Frank’s band at Villa Verone in Geneva in 2009.
The activities area at Heritage Woods was turned into a beautifully decorated ballroom as the attendees danced to swing, latin, classic ballads, and even some 50′s rock n’ roll. Wine, beer and hors d’oevres were served as a prom king and a 103 year old female resident was crowned queen.
Below is some video footage from the event. The songs featured are: Nevertheless, Dream Lover and Meditation.
Singer Frank Lamphere and his trio of pianist Jim Ryan, bassist Jim Cox and drummer Bob Rummage will return to City Gate Grille on Friday Sept. 24 for the once a month appearance.
Frank will include many new selections in his diverse sets. Included will be several tunes from the Frank Sinatra grammy winning album September of My Years.
Music begins at 8PM.
Frank Lamphere's Rat Pack Jazz Combined with a Deejay
Lamphere has teamed with a highly respected D.J company and has musical entertainment packages that start as low as $3495.00 Frank states “You get the best of both worlds” Frank Lamphere has probably the largest repertoire of Rat Pack songs in the U.S and he sings them in his own inimitable style. On the menu: full swingin’ renditions of retro-pop at cocktail hour followed by easy listening standards during dinner. At 8:30 or 9:00 the D.J comes in, takes it up several notches and crams the dance floor for the next 3 hours. Truly a memorable, exceptional and unique offering for the Chicagoland area that has brides and guests raving.
Local to Chicago singer-entertainer Frank Lamphere will sing with his quartet this Sunday, August 22 at the Arlington Park Racetrack in Arlington Heights, Illinois. As a part of the special event “Horsepower” Frank and his high-powered jazz group will be performing between races, in the park area (to the left of the track). Big crowds are anticipated, as the Arlington Million runs the day before.
In the video Frank sings with his quartet from 2009 and displaying his tremendous versatility.
Lamphere will put out high energy, hard swinging “Rat Pack type” standards as well as sing some of Dean Martin, Elvis and Tom Jones’ better known songs. General admission is $8.00 Racing begins at 1:00PM
Joining Frank Lamphere on the bandstand are a Who’s Who of Chicago jazz illuminaries:
Jim Ryan – keyboard
Andy Brown – guitar
Jim Cox – bass
Rusty Jones – drums
Frank Lamphere with trio and Charley Krebs
Frank Lamphere interviewed on Avenue 950AM
Singer Frank Lamphere has been invited to the studios of Avenue 950 to guest on “This is Chicago Jazz” for an interview and to sing with his trio. The show will air June 22 at 8PM on 950AM.
Listen to the show as a podcast here Then scroll to the June 22 show.
“Mr. Rat Pack” Frank Lamphere sings at City Gate Grille in Naperville on Friday 23. 8PM-Midnight 630-718-1010
Frank will be accompanied by his trio of pianist Jim Ryan, bassist Jim Cox and drummer Mike Jeffers.
City Gate Grille is located the first light north of I-88 and east of Route 59.
Future dates at City Gate Grille include: August 06, September 24, October 15, November 19, and Decemebr 03
Lamphere and his trio spent the early part of 2007 performing at Jilly’s in downtown Naperville. Here is a video clip from Jilly’s
Chicago singer Frank Lamphere now offers his one-of-a-kind live musical entertainment with a world class deejay. Frank says “For years I have been hired with my band to perform at wedding receptions providing a live element to the early part of the evening while then turning the reins over to a D.J. I don’t try to fool anyone. I am a specialist. I have no desire to sing much of the music outside of my genre, that is typically played at weddings. It’s hard to beat the real recordings!”
Lamphere has teamed with a highly respected D.J company and has musical entertainment packages that start as low as $3495.00 Frank states “You get the best of both worlds” Frank Lamphere has probably the largest repertoire of Rat Pack songs in the U.S and he sings them in his own inimitable style. On the menu: full swingin’ renditions of retro-pop at cocktail hour followed by easy listening standards during dinner. At 8:30 or 9:00 the D.J comes in, takes it up several notches and crams the dance floor for the next 3 hours. Truly a memorable, exceptional and unique offering for the Chicagoland area that has brides and guests raving.