Michael Feinstein – Adelphi Theatre

Michael Feinstein performed with a big band at the Adelphi Theatre, London

Michael Feinstein performed at the Adelphi Theatre, London.

Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★

In the years Michael Feinstein has been visiting the UK – both in small and large scale venues – the American singer and pianist has built up a following of fans who don’t just respect his dedication to the Great American Songbook, but also have a genuine affection for him as a performer.

It was no surprise then to discover an atmosphere of warmth and appreciation within a pretty full Adelphi Theatre, as Feinstein kicked off his sophisticated song stylings, on this occasion accompanied by a mighty fine big band led by conductor, arranger and orchestrator Larry Blank.

It’s questionable whether Feinstein would be quite as internationally popular as he is if he was purely a vocalist, but the artist is so much more than that. His passion for the popular song is infectious and his commitment as an archivist to keeping the work of composers, lyricists, orchestrators etc alive is inspiring.

All of this work behind the scenes drives Feinstein’s enthusiasm for performing all over the world and his love for what he does is obvious for all to see.

A nicely balanced, perfectly-pitched programme allowed Feinstein to showcase his ability to belt out numbers with impressive power (backed by the 17 first class musicians onstage); as well as bring the whole theatre to a hush with the tender interpretation of a bitter sweet ballad.

While uptempo set pieces celebrating the golden days of Broadway and Hollywood were thoroughly entertaining, for me it was often the latter, quieter numbers that left the biggest impression. There was a depth of feeling within ‘Where Do You Start?’ (music by Johnny Mandel, lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman), ‘The Very Thought of You’ (Ray Noble) and ‘My Foolish Heart’ (Victor Young), enhanced by a vulnerability and melancholy from Feinstein which was rather moving.

Feinstein also exhibited a certain humility, apologising for going off on tangents with anecdotes about songwriters and performers, telling jokes, throwing in the occasional impression, and yet these interludes were often very amusing.

The singer’s respect for the material he helps to champion and treasure was always evident, especially in the way he took the time to credit the songwriters and nearly always included a composition’s rarely-heard verse (always a pleasure to hear). This also extended to his decision to sing a number like ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ as composer Bart Howard originally intended: in a slow, lilting guitar arrangement which gave the song a new meaning.

And if the audience wasn’t enjoying all of the above enough, Feinstein invited a special guest, actress and singer Alison Jiear (recently seen on Britain’s Got Talent and currently rehearsing the Southwark Playhouse production of Xanadu), to join him for two Harold Arlen/Ted Koehler torch songs in the second half. The former proved herself a welcome addition to the evening with her powerful vocals, great stage presence and ability to musically improvise with the very best.

After inviting requests from the audience – resulting in a memorable rendition of the exquisite song ‘Old Friend’ – Feinstein ended the concert with a medley of music celebrating the centenary of Frank Sinatra’s birth. However, he opted for an intimate number in order to bid farewell (Leslie Bricusse and Henry Mancini’s ‘Two For the Road’), and it was these kind of poignant moments that will resonate with this critic for a good while yet.

In addition to Feinstein’s deftness at the piano, it is worth taking time out to credit the highly skilled musicians onstage, not least guitarist Adam Smith and trumpeter Simon Gardner. It’s a shame that a programme wasn’t organised so that those who attended the concert could have discovered more about the material chosen and the names of those involved in bringing the songs to life.

Lisa Martland