In a Sentimental Mood: Mathis Sings Ellington


In a Sentimental Mood: Mathis Sings Ellington is an album by American pop singer Johnny Mathis that was released on October 9, 1990, by Columbia Records and continues the studio album pattern that began with The Hollywood Musicals and In the Still of the Night in which the song selections adhere to a specific theme or focus.
In 1992 this project earned Mathis a Grammy Award nomination in the category of Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, his first nod from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences in over 30 years. His only previous nomination was for "Misty" in the category of Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
This is the first Mathis album whose release did not include the LP record format, which was discontinued earlier in the year.

History

As Mathis looked back at the vocalists that he admired the most, such as Nat King Cole and Lena Horne, he felt that some of their best performances were evoked by the music of Duke Ellington. "'I wanted,'" he said, "'to make an intimate, close, hands-on portrait of this great man and his great music. And I wanted to get it right -- to keep that feeling alive in a way that was completely honest and true.'"
Several elements came together to provide that feeling that Mathis was seeking for this project, one of the more blatant examples being the trumpet work of Bill Berry, a one-time member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra. There were, however, production factors to work around, especially with regard to the fact that the vocal track was not going to be recorded separately. "The London Symphony players that we wanted were only available to us five days in the morning at 10 o'clock." This created a different type of recording schedule for Mathis. "I had to get up at 5 or 6 AM just to get my voice in some kind of shape to sing that early. But there was such a warm, wonderful feeling... even at that hour of the morning -- that I knew we were making the right decision."
The original takes from these sessions were used for about half of the tracks on the finished product. Mathis explained, "'I wanted to get some first, second and third takes with the orchestra because of the wonderful sound from this church in Petersham.'" The latest technology allowed him to complete the vocal tracks back in the US. "'I sang four or five back here. They use an amazing computer that can match the sound and the timbre of the room.'" The greatest challenge of this particular music, however, was left to the singer. "'I've sung Ellington's music in the past,'" he said. "'It was hard to sing then, and to this day it's still very difficult music. But it rewards the effort–oh, does it ever reward the effort.'"

Reception

Although the album did not make it onto Billboard magazine's Top Pop Albums chart, Allmusic's Dave Nathan writes in his retrospective review that "the music remains as absorbing and enticing as if it were arranged by Ellington himself." He says regarding Mathis that "he has lost none of that special taste and phrasing which made his records consistently favored by a wide segment of the listening public," and, "He still delivers each song with emotional intensity and personal intimacy."

Track listing

  1. "Overture – A Musical Tribute to Duke Ellington" – 2:16
  2. *Fred Hersch – piano solo
  3. * Byron Olson – arranger
  4. "Lush Life" – 4:15
  5. * Byron Olson – arranger
  6. Medley – 4:47
a. "Don't You Know I Care "
b. "I Didn't Know About You"
  1. * Brad Dechter – arranger
  2. "Things Ain't What They Used to Be" – 1:17
  3. * Brad Dechter – arranger
  4. "In a Sentimental Mood" – 4:05
  5. *Fred Hersch – piano solo
  6. * Byron Olson – arranger
  7. "What Am I Here For" – 4:22
  8. * Bill Berry – trumpeter
  9. * Brad Dechter – arranger
  10. "I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good)" – 1:43
  11. "Something to Live For" – 3:37
  12. * Ronnie Ross – baritone sax soloist
  13. * Byron Olson – arranger
  14. "Solitude" – 3:40
  15. * Byron Olson – arranger
  16. "Perdido" – 1:05
  17. * Brad Dechter – arranger
  18. "Prelude to a Kiss" – 2:52
  19. * Brad Dechter – arranger
  20. "In a Mellow Tone" – 3:19
  21. * Brad Dechter – arranger
  22. "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" – 3:16
  23. * Brad Dechter – arranger
  24. "Satin Doll" – 1:07
  25. "Come Sunday" – 3:24
  26. * Brad Dechter – arranger
  27. "Do Nothing till You Hear from Me" – 4:39
  28. * Brad Dechter – arranger
  29. "Caravan" – 0:54
  30. "Day Dream" – 3:26
  31. * Byron Olson – arranger

Personnel

From the liner notes for the original album: