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 Emmy and five-time Grammy 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
2015-16 season, please visit www.BrooklynCenter.org.

By
Laura Thompson
www.loralia.com