Johnny Mathis - In a Sentimental Mood: Mathis Sings Ellington (1990)

In a Sentimental Mood: Mathis Sings Ellington is a profoundly elegant, sophisticated, and masterfully tailored vocal jazz masterpiece by the legendary American pop-traditional and ballad icon Johnny Mathis, released in 1990 by Columbia Records. Standing as a magnificent, high-fidelity tribute album dedicated entirely to the timeless songbook of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, this studio document captures Mathis completely immersing his velvet-toned, operatic phrasing into a pristine late-night cool jazz setting. Spanning nearly 55 minutes across 18 tracks, the album expertly juxtaposes expansive, sweeping orchestral pop frameworks with intimate, small-group acoustic swing movements. Mathis delivers a masterclass in emotional restraint and structural grace, navigating complex modal chord shifts and deep melodic contours with effortless ease. The expansive tracklist is beautifully balanced, featuring exquisite vocal interpretations of Strayhorn's demanding Lush Life, the soaring title track In a Sentimental Mood, and the deeply spiritual Come Sunday, all seamlessly interwoven with short, high-velocity instrumental interludes of timeless themes like Caravan, Perdido, and Satin Doll. Exceptionally preserved in pristine lossless audio quality, this rare archival document stands as an absolute mandatory cornerstone and a prized collector's treasure for global purists of modern traditional pop vocal history, big band lore, and sophisticated mid-century cool jazz songbooks.