The Great American Songbook: Celebrating 100 Years of Music in America
The Great American Songbook: Celebrating 100 Years of Music in America(2003) This is a remarkable collection of memorable American musical moments presented and, often, sung by Michael Feinstein. Perhaps no other living American could have accomplished this feat of selection and collection. The task of tracking down permissions for rare performances by Bessie Smith and others was devilishly difficult. Perhaps more important was Mr. Feinstein’s excellence as a singer, pianist, and archivist of popular American music in recent generations.
Feinstein worked in local piano bars after graduating high school. At age 20 he moved to Los Angeles, when Oscar Levant’s widow introduced him to Ira Gershwin, with whom he spent six years cataloging Ira’s and George’s record collection. He established a close friendship with Gershwin’s neighbor, Rosemary Clooney, then was sponsored on Broadway, in 1986, by Liza Minnelli.
Subsequently, he recorded various CDs, while playing cabaret piano at the Algonquin (where I caught the intimacy of his performance) and elsewhere. The Great American Songbook is a culmination of Feinstein’s eclectic career to date. His knowledge of musical history is awesome, matched by his ability to play along with the masters. From minstrel shows and Stephen Foster to Rock ‘n Roll and As Time Goes By, this is an unforgettable musical experience