Perfection: Tommy Flanagan: In the Blue of Evening

In 1960, pianist Tommy Flanagan recorded The Tommy Flanagan Trio, an album of easy-going jazz for Prestige's Moodsville line. Joining Flanagan was the exceptional Tommy Potter of bass and superb Roy Haynes on drums. By then, Flanagan had made a name for himself as a first-call sideman and would soon become Ella Fitzgerald's accompanist.

While the entire album is top-notch, the track that has always stood for its sheer elegance and beauty is In the Blue of Evening. The song by Tom Adair and Alfonso D'Artega was first recorded by Frank Sinatra in 1942 and probably written for him. It was one of the last songs performed by Sinatra while he was with Tommy Dorsey, before he went out on his own as a solo act and movie star.

Here's the Tommy Flanagan Trio playing In the Blue of Evening in 1960...



And as a Perfection bonus, here's Sinatra's plush studio recording in June 1942...