Frank Sinatra, Count Basie, & Duke Ellington - The Giants Of Jazz

Frank Sinatra, Count Basie & Duke Ellington — The Giants Of Jazz 2LP

New collection features remastered versions of Sinatra's historic collaborations

Includes rare photos and original artwork with new gatefold jacket design

A new Frank Sinatra double vinyl set from UMe and Frank Sinatra Enterprises features Sinatra's historic collaborations with Count Basie and Duke Ellington. The Giants of Jazz incorporates a pair of albums — It Might As Well Be Swing with Count Basie and His Orchestra, from 1964, and Francis A. & Edward K. with Duke Ellington, all newly remastered from the archival recordings. January 1968's Francis A. & Edward K paired Sinatra with Ellington and his big band.

Originally released in August 1964, It Might As Well Be Swing saw Sinatra accompanied by Basie alongside an orchestra for 10 tracks. It was their second time working together following 1962's Sinatra-Basie and Sinatra's first studio album arranged by Quincy Jones. Recalled the arranger: "Since his days with Tommy Dorsey and Harry James in bands where the instrumentalists were the stars and the singers the relief team, Sinatra had approached working with a big band as an almost religious experience, and treated it with profound respect."

Francis A. & Edward K. features an iconic rendition of "All I Need Is The Girl" and "Indian Summer," which includes a standout solo by saxophonist Johnny Hodges. Jazz legends Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Paul Gonsalves, Russell Procope, and others are also part of the Ellington orchestra and Sinatra's long time arranger, Billy May, did the arrangements.