Sammy
Davis, Jr.
Sammy & Friends
More
than a decade after his death, Sammy Davis, Jr. remains a hero
on the hi-fi circuit, and Rhino Records shows us why by compiling
some of Davis finest recordings on Sammy and Friends.
The
CD begins with a version of Aint That a Kick in the
Head that is so brash and straight-forward, it makes Dean
Martins take sound like a distant afterthought.
The rest of the disc features several of his collaborations with
jazz legends including orchestra conductors Morty Stevens,
Billy May, and Nelson Riddleas well as some hard-to-find
tracks.
From
the soundtrack to Robin and the Seven Hoods comes Bang Bang
and the infectious Dont Be a Do-Badder, where
Sammy is joined by Frank, Dean and Bing. Davis teams up with Sinatra
again on the blithe bar-hopping anthem Me and My Shadow,
and is reunited with Deano on Sams Song. He also
swings it to the moon with Buddy Rich on What Kind of Fool
Am I? and serves up an electrifying life version of I
Should Care with guitar great Sam Butera. The only shortcoming
is the absence of Davis recordings with Count Basie on Our
Shining Hour. Still, this disc exquisitely showcases both Sammys
vocal talent and his ability to woo an audience with his signature
confidence and bravado.
-
Giancarlo Davis
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