MICHAEL FEINSTEIN - Nice work if you can get it

MICHAEL FEINSTEIN
O pianista, cantor, compositor e arranjador Michael Feinstein pode ser considerado como uma uma espécie de "curador da grande música norte americana". Além de ter sido secretário de Ira Gershwin, que lhe colocou nas mãos um tesouro inestimável de canções inéditas, MF presta serviços a uma série de instituições, voltadas para a preservação do grande cancioneiro norte americano. E, além de tudo isso, é um senhor artista: um craque, que acrescenta  um toque de elegância a tudo que faz.

(*) Um causo: 
Durante anos, acalentei um sonho: poder, um dia, ir ao "Hotel Carlyle", em New York, para assistir às apresentações do "entertainer" Bobby Short. Não que eu fosse (aliás, nunca fui) admirador de Bobby Short. Mas ele era o mais legítimo representante e o símbolo de tudo aquilo que eu sonhava, isto é - viver um pouco do charme, da beleza, da riqueza e da elegância dos "anos dourados" de New York, coisas que, embevecido, desde menino, eu assistia nos filmes em "preto-e-branco" dos anos 40 e no "technicolor" dos anos 50. E não é que, por desígnios da Sorte, os misteriosos caminhos do Destino me levaram à realização desse "sonho impossível"? Foi assim: no início dos anos 90, por questões de ordem profissional, fui morar nos USA, onde meu primeiro domicílio foi, exatamente, Manhattan. Depois de alguns meses de trabalho, juntei uns trocados e resolvi me conceder a realização do sonho, sem pensar no tamanho da "salgada" conta que, de antemão, eu sabia que ia ter que pagar. Assim, reservei uma mesa no Carlyle, sem imaginar que, além da realização do sonho, o meu bom e velho casal de amigos (a Sorte e o Destino)  me brindaria com algo mais: além de Bobby Short (que, ao vivo, era muito melhor que em discos), naquela abençoada noite teve uma inesperada"canja" do MICHAEL FEINSTEIN, atendendo ao convite de Bobby Short e aos apelos dos circunstantes, entre os quais, todo prosa, se encontrava este escriba. (Ainda bem que, naquela época, Michael ainda não era uma estrela tão resplandescente, nem proprietário do seu próprio "night-club" novaiorquino - o "Feinstein’s at Loews Regency" - e, de quando em vez, ia ao Carlyle´s ouvir o Bobby Short ).

(**)Ah, antes que você pergunte pela conta:  pensando bem, até que nem foi tão "salgada" assim: afinal, a realização de um sonho não tem preço.  
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MICHAEL FEINSTEIN
Michael Feinstein is considered one of the premier interpreters of American standards. More than simply a performer, Feinstein is nationally recognized for his commitment to celebrating America’s popular song and preserving its legacy for the next generation. He serves on the Library of Congress’ National Recording
Preservation Board, which has been asked to ensure the survival, conservation and increased public availability of  America’s sound recording heritage. If that weren’t enough, Feinstein will serve as artistic director of the Center for the Performing Arts, a $170 million, three-theatre venue in Carmel, Ind., scheduled to open in January 2011. The theater will be home to an annual international Great American Songbook festival, diverse live programming and a museum for his rare memorabilia and manuscripts. Starting in 2010, he also took over as director of Jazz and Popular Song Series at New York’s Lincoln Center. Feinstein has written the score for two new stage musicals, The Day They Saved Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and The Gold Room, and he is working on an MGM project to turn The Thomas Crown Affair into a Broadway musical. He also is designing a new piano for Steinway called “The First Ladies,” inspired by the White House piano. Feinstein’s love of song can be heard in The Sinatra Project, celebrating the music of “Ol’ Blue Eyes,” and in the series Michael Feinstein’s American Songbook, in which he uncovers treasures from the Great American Songbook. Before The Sinatra Project, Feinstein recorded Hopeless Romantics, a songbook of Harry Warren classics recorded with legendary jazz pianist George Shearing. In 2004, he completed a national tour with songwriting icon Jimmy Webb based on their CD Only One Life – The Songs of Jimmy Webb. His own record label, Feinery, a Concord Records subsidiary, released The Livingston & Evans Songbook, featuring Feinstein and special guest Melissa Manchester. Feinery also records favorite current artists and restores recordings and musical broadcasts from the golden age of popular song. His Manhattan nightclub, Feinstein’s at Loews Regency, has presented the top talents of pop and jazz, including Rosemary Clooney, Steve Tyrell, Barbara Cook, Glen Campbell, Diahann Carroll, Cheyenne
Jackson, Jane Krakowski, Lea Michele, Cindi Lauper, Jason Mraz and Alan Cumming. Feinstein appears there for a sold-out holiday engagement every year. The roots of all this work began in Columbus, Ohio, where Feinstein started playing piano by ear as a 5-year-old. After graduating from high school, he worked in local piano lounges for two years, moving to Los Angeles when he was 20. The widow of legendary concert pianist-actor Oscar Levant introduced him to Ira Gershwin in July 1977. Feinstein became Gershwin’s assistant for six years, which earned him access to numerous unpublished Gershwin songs, many of which he has since performed and recorded. Gershwin’s influence provided a solid base upon which Feinstein evolved into a captivating performer, composer and arranger of his own original music. He also has become an unparalleled interpreter of music
legends such as Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer, Duke Ellington and Harry Warren.
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ALBUM REVIEW  
The brilliance of George Gershwin in composing music, the ingenuity of Ira Gershwin in writing the lyrics and the artistry of Michael Feinstein in interpreting these timeless classics make this album one of the best recordings of all-time. It's a common knowledge among Gershwin fans that Mr. Feinstein has worked for Ira Gershwin for years until the songwriter's death in 1983. He's one lucky guy to have worked with one of the greatest songwriters of all-time. He interprets thirteen selections of which six I consider the very highlights of this recording. My topmost
favorite is an unpublished song until 1983, "Ask Me Again," one of the less famous songs of the Gershwins but its words and music are simply splendid and I love it! The flawless arrangement complements his outstanding vocal artisty. Thank you Mr. Feinstein, for being one of the key figures in keeping the music of Gershwin brothers alive forevermore. The rest of the highlights are "Nice Work If You Can Get It," a medley of "A Foggy Day" (In London Town)/"Things Are Looking Up," a song arranged by the singer himself with Harvey Cohen, "Who Cares?" from the musical comedy "Of Thee I Sing" (who would think this song is 73 years old?) and "Someone To Watch Over Me," a song Ira Gershwin wrote about himself around the time he married his wife Leonore ("he may not be the man some girls think of as handsome..."). This charming version was arranged and conducted by a fine
arranger, Don Sebesky. And my all-time favorite - Oscar-nominated "They Can't Take That Away From Me," from the 1937 film "Shall We Dance?" To me, this is the most ear-catching interpretation I've ever heard and has become my favorite for its hauntingly beautiful orchestral arrangement, which was based on the original
arrangement by Conrad Salinger in 1948 recording. This charming arrangement was reconstructed by Christopher Palmer and Jeff Atmajian, and conducted by Larry Blank. Don't miss out on this CD. This is one of Michael Feinstein's nicest compilations of songs by the Gershwins. A must-have for all Gershwin and Feinstein fans. I enjoyed listening to it and I'm sure you will, too.
~By Rebecca Weinstein - (L.A - Cal)    

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Michael Feinstein worked with Ira Gershwin during the last six years of the elder Gershwin's life and this helped form a bond between him and the musical legends. His first Gershwin album was a pianist's tribute, and quite good. This album being vocal is a welcome addition indeed. We hear the familiar songs such as "Someone To Watch Over Me", "Fascinating Rhythm", "They Can't Take That Away From Me," but more importantly, he introduces a number of previously unpublished songs. "Ask Me Again", "For You, For Me", "Luckiest Man In The World", all are noteworthy. Feinstein has a large range, and ability to encompass several styles. On "A Foggy Day", one may well recall Fred Astaire. Basically, though, his interpretaion is his own. This CD is especially recommended for those with a Gershwin collection as well as those who are seeking to develop such a collection.
~By Neal C. Reynolds (Indianapolis, Indiana) 
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MINHA OPINIÃO
Depois de tudo o que está ai em cima, seria desperdício de tempo tentar acrescentar qualquer coisa. Só me resta, então, dizer o óbvio: este álbum é OURO EM PÓ!

(*)De quebra, tem o "auxilio-luxuoso" do L.A VOICES no "medley"!
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MICHAEL FEINSTEIN - Nice work if you can get it

PERSONNEL:
Michael Feinstein (vocals, piano)
Rob Fisher, Don Sebesky, Bill Elliot, Mort Lindsey, Larry Blank (conductor)
Gerry Vinci, Endre Granat (concertmaster)
Bill Watrous (trombone)
Armen Guzelimian, Stan Freeman, Tom Ranier (piano)
Chuck Berghofer (bass)
Jeff Hamilton (drums).

(*) Guests: L.A. Voices (Gene Merlino, Don Shelton, Med Flory, Sue Raney, Melissa McKay).

TRACKS/FAIXAS:
1. Who Cares?   
2. Ask Me Again
3. Anything for You
4. Someone to Watch over Me
5. Luckiest Man in the World
6. Fascinating Rhythm [Medley]
7. Will You Remember Me?   
8. Nice Work If You Can Get It
9. Somebody Stole My Heart Away
10. A Foggy Day/Things Are Looking Up
11. Love Is in the Air   
12. They Can't Take That Away from Me
13. For You, for Me, for Evermore