"The latest in a long line of neo-Sinatras and really, one of the best" - Mr. Lucky
"A first rate singer with style" - Jazz Review
Referring to his vocal performance on CD, Cadence Magazine said "Lamphere swings niftily, in tune, and makes the lyrics ring true".
A well respected writer for several national jazz publications wrote "Although Frank Lamphere can closely emulate Dean Martin and put on a Frank Sinatra tribute with the best of them, he has an original voice, personality and conception within the crooner tradition".
Lamphere's first full length album Ain't Love a Kick had thirteen songs with lyrics by the great lyricist Sammy Cahn. The album featured a quartet of fine Chicago based musicians.
I don’t know if you remember me but you built me a couple decks in Wheaton.
Funny thing. When you first recorded a CD I remember you had a stack of them and were just giving them away. I gave that CD to my daughter (age 13) whom later ended up going to Berklee College of Music, then later on to Law School focused on Entertainment Law.
But the really funny part of the story is that she recently got married and surprised me with “Ain’t That a Kick In The Head” directly off your CD that she still has!
Just thought you would get a chuckle out of it.
Alex
REVIEWS
One of the most prolific and successful lyric writers in the history of American popular song was Sammy Cahn. His career, like Gaul, can be divided into two parts. The first was that eminently thriving collaboration with Jule Styne which produced one hit after another including Time After Time, The Things We Did Last Summer and I've Heard That Song Before. The second major partnership by the New York lyricist was with the inestimable Jimmy Van Heusen. This merger was forged by Frank Sinatra to provide a menu of tunes for his maturing voice which it did with such winners as The Tender Trap, Come Fly with Me and Only the Lonely. Lamphere on this album has chosen to focus on, but not completely so, on Cahn's second artistic period and that probably is because his vocal style was influenced by Ol' Blue Eyes. This is apparent on My Kind of Town, one of Sinatra's most recognizable hits and a song that was entirely his. The arrangement for this tune also highlights that this album is not just another ordinary, run of the mill tribute to a top American song writer. Johnny Gabor's Hammond B3 and Frank Portolese's tightly strung, highly amped guitar make this the funkiest/grooviest arrangement of this tune I've ever heard. It's a blast. Perhaps Sinatra might have done a double take, but he would sure have enjoyed it. But Lamphere doesn't ignore the romantic Cahn with a touching version of The Things We Did Last Summer where Gabor switches to the piano and Mike Jeffers' brushed cymbals provide a special rhythmic setting. Not every track is devoted to a Cahn biggie. Lamphere does a cute but sassy Everybody Has the Right to be Wrong which was a Peggy Lee vehicle. Lamphere's collaborators on this endeavor use arrangement that make the group sound much larger than it is. Gabor's piano sometimes takes on the accouterments of a highly skilled society pianist al la Carmen Cavallaro on All My Tomorrows. But for the most part, he stays the course. This CD is a fine production and is recommended. Track listing: Ain't That a Kick in the Head; Everybody Has the Right to Be Wrong; The Second Time Around; Please Be Kind; I'll Only Miss Her When I Think of Her; Day By Day; Star; All My Tomorrows; Time after Time; Until the Real Thing Comes Along; My Kind of Town; The Things We Did Last Summer; Be My Love Personnel: Frank Lamphere - Vocals; Johnny Gabor - Piano/Hammond B3; Frank Portolese - Guitar; Nick Schneider - Bass; Mike Jeffers - Drums/Percussion - All About Jazz
A first rate singer with style, Frank Lamphere will delight the jazz listening audience. This is a memorable listening adventure. -JazzReview.com - Lee Prosser, March 2003 - Jazz Review
No usage or reproduction of any kind is permitted without prior written consent from Rat Pack Jazz.com and this Dean Martin cover band Frank Sinatra Impersonator and Dean Martin Frank Sinatra Tribute for Corporate Entertainment, Casinos, and Special Events, serving Chicago, Palm Springs, New York, Las Vegas, Atlantic City, St Louis, Phoenix, Virginia Beach, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Des Moines, Milwaukee and cities Nationwide. All content and images on this website are copyrighted. All Rights Reserved.
