Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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25 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not as good as hoped for, September 11, 2008
Michael Feinstein has taken on the mantle of THE current expert on American Popular Song. As such he continues to explore the idiom from many aspects. From his earlier efforts with solo piano and a quiet cocktail lounge approach, he has progressed to the current effort involving a large talented orchestra and arrangements that are "authentic Sinatra". So, then, what exactly is the problem? Well, in a nut shell, Michael Feinstein is Not Frank Sinatra. Whereas Sinatra had a unique and characteristic vocal "attack' with phrasing that was at once rhythmic and idiosyncratic, Feinstein's voice sounds forced, and without depth. His phrasing is akward, and completely without the recognizable sustained noted on the consonants that made Sinatra so recognizable. The treble notes ( listen to Begin the Beguine and parts of It's All Right With Me ) ) are simply awful as Feinstein struggles to be heard above the band. Indeed, his range is much more applicable to musical arrangements on solo piano wherein the more intimate setting can play to his strengths, i.e., a softer voice in which the lack of range can be hidden by strategic "whispers", better phrasing, heart felt sighs, and well executed "falsettos" in the high range. Simply listen to All My Tomorrows/All The Way to hear how much better Feinstein sings with solo piano; the difference is amazing.
A decided positive is the orchestration and the sound of the recording which are first rate. Feinstein's stated goal was to pay tribute to Sinatra by presenting songs that Sinatra didn't record, or recorded once or twice in sessions that might have not been optimal. Such selections were to be in the "style" of Sinatra's time. I will let others decide if Feinstein succeeded in that aspect of the present recording. Unfortunately, Feinstein's previous vocal successes are not evident in the Sinatra Project. Stick with Frank, and save your money.
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13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What A Lovely Album . . . I Love It!, September 9, 2008
"For years I've had the desire to celebrate Sinatra's musical sensibilities, but I felt that no one needed to hear another knock off of the classic songs that he rendered better than anyone else....Bill Elliott and I decided to reflect the Sinatra sensibility in romantic repertoire but applied a 'what if' scenario to some of the arrangements by interpreting them in conceptually different styles from his own renditions." ~ Michael Feinstein ~
Michael Feinstein's recordings have continuously delighted lovers of fine music with his beyond par vocal and piano artistry. His exceptional body of work is not only confined to George and Ira Gershwin's music, but also the Great American Songbook in general. He is simply one of the most dedicated interpreters of this music genre. It's so impossible not to think of his name when talking about the timeless Standards from the Great American Songbook for he has represented the music and lyrics of almost all the renowned composers and lyricists such as the Gershwin Brothers, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Dorothy Fields, Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart, Cole Porter, Harry Warren, Hoagy Carmichael, Sammy Cahn, Oscar Hammerstein, Jule Styne, Alan and Marilyn Bergman, and the list goes on and on.
Mr. Feinstein, a Los Angeles based singer has given countless Standards new meanings and interpretations to the delight of music lovers, and he will continue to give them much pleasure again with his latest offering entitled "The Sinatra Project," a loving tribute to the music mostly identified with the legendary Chairman of the Board, none other than the one-and-only Frank Sinatra.
He is backed by Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra which is made up of fifty musicians and concert masters. On the entire album, Mr. Feinstein swings with finesse and sings with his own exceptional style, and of course does not imitate 'Ol Blue Eyes, who was incomparably unique and matchless. Bill Elliott did an excellent job with the ingeniously beautiful big band arrangements and orchestrations. Also featured is an incredibly brilliant pianist, Alan Broadbent, who has been collaborating with Mr. Feinstein over the years on some of his remarkable recordings most notably Romance on Film/Romance on Broadway.
The entire CD is an absolute winner from the opener, "Exactly Like You" which is an excellent appetizer that will leave your ears clamoring for more beautiful big band arrangements down to the final cut, "At Long Last Love." And in between the first and last tracks, you'll be pleased with equal satisfaction listening to his stunning renditions of "Begin The Beguine," "The Song Is You," "I've Got A Crush On You," "You Go To My Head," "Fools Rush In" and a medley of "All My Tomorrows"/"All The Way." China Forbes of Pink Martini graced this program with a duet on "How Long Will It Last," a seldom recorded song from the pens of Max Lief and Joseph Meyer.
An emotional highlight is his heart-wrenching delivery of a new song from this set, "The Same Hello, The Same Goodbye," from the pens of Alan and Marilyn Bergman. It was written exclusively for Frank Sinatra who commissioned it to sing in concert. Per Michael Feinstein's notes, Frank Sinatra never learned the song in spite of his reported adoration for it, and cried the first time Alan Bergman sang it for him saying: "How do you know so much about my life?"
This is obviously one of the best Sinatra tributes ever recorded and it is a worthy addition to your Frank Sinatra and Michael Feinstein music collection. I love this album with all my heart -- it belongs to the first of three categories from my music collection: (1) Closest-to-my-heart-collection, (2) Closer-to-my-heart-collection, and (3) Close-to-my-heart-collection.
A lovely album. With my heartfelt recommendation.
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best Feinstein CD Ever!!!!!!!!!!!, September 18, 2008
Quite simply put "this is Michael Feinstein's Finest Hour!" I have every Feinstein album ever cut and this one is the best yet. I can't stop listening to it, it's on the i pod ,its in the car{great with the top down} i-tunes, you name it i'm playing it somewhere......This cd is worth ordering overnite ....yup every penney ! buy it today and enjoy! I'm sure Sinatra is smiling wherever he is! The final cut "At Long Last Love "will blow you away!
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~ Natalie Cole
~ Diana Krall
~ Steve Tyrell
~ John Pizzarelli
~ James Taylor
by Michael Feinstein 
