Brooklyn Center for
the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College
Opened is 2015-16
season with
MICHAEL FEINSTEIN
Sinatra Centennial
Celebration
October 25, 2015
with
TEDD FIRTH, Piano
and
SEAN SMITH, Bass
and
MARK McLEAN, Drums
MICHAEL
FEINSTEIN is a two-time EmmyÒ
and five-time GrammyÒ
Award-nominated singer/pianist known as "The Ambassador of the Great
American Songbook". This multi-platinum-selling entertainer opened
Brooklyn Center's 61st season with a tribute to Ol' Blue Eyes in celebration of
what would have been Frank Sinatra's upcoming 100th birthday on December 12th.
Feinstein's impeccable interpretive
skills were brought to the greatest tunes sung by Sinatra in the 20th century. TED FIRTH did an outstanding job
playing the piano accompanied by SEAN
SMITH on Bass and MARK McLEAN on
Drums. Feinstein having once met Sinatra sang some of the family's favorite
songs as well as songs from Sinatra's preferred composers and lyricists, along
with a commentary about the back story of many of the songwriters who wrote for
Sinatra which proved very interesting.
Mid-way through, Feinstein spoke about
the Great American Songbook Foundation that he founded dedicated to celebrating
the art form and preserving it through educational programs, Master Classes,
and the annual High School Songbook Academy. As a delightful surprise, he
introduced the winner of the 2010 Great American Songbook Academy, ANNIE YOKOM who sang and performed
brilliantly by herself with the trio of musicians and earned laudable applause.
Feinstein returned to the stage and
finished with a swinging Sinatra medley, a real crowd pleaser, including
"I've Got You Under My Skin, Witchcraft, and ending with New York, New
York" but of course, a grand tribute to a great city!
Overall, it was a wonderful rendition to
Sinatra and Feinstein put together a great song selection that turned out to be
a nice ode to Ol' Blues Eyes' career with some video footage as a backdrop.
For more information about the Brooklyn
Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College
By
Laura Thompson
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