Standards of excellence Michael Feinstein admits he just as easily could have been a musical archivist in the Library of Congress or "a geek in a record store asking customers 'Have you heard this one?'"
Michael Feinstein has made his name in
crafting inventive interpretations of tunesBy Tim Ryan
tryan@starbulletin.comFortunately for music lovers who appreciate American standards, the singer-pianist took the road of creating lush and inventive treatments of dozens of tunes.
"The standards are so important to our musical history because there's nothing like them now," Feinstein said in a telephone interview from his Los Angeles home. "We still read Mark Twain and Dickens because that's still fresh, relevant and original material which was born out of an equal measure of perspiration and inspiration."
But singing the classic songs is much more for him than just preserving memories.
"With what is happening in our country today, it's essential for me to keep that music in my life and for other people," he said. "I don't just listen to the music because it's old and I reminisce about that period, but because it captures something and makes me feel so full."
Fans can hear Feinstein perform for the third time with the Honolulu Pops today and tomorrow at the Blaisdell Concert Hall.
Feinstein has been a household name since the success of his one-man Broadway show "Isn't It Romantic" in 1988.
In May, he released his fourth Concord album, "Michael Feinstein With The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra," the first time he's recorded with a symphony orchestra. The 88-piece orchestra is fronted by the Alan Broadbent Trio, with Broadbent providing most of the arrangements.
Conductor Zubin Mehta had been asking Feinstein for years to perform in Israel a special program of American popular songs. It came together for a May 2001 concert in Tel Aviv. Feinstein had never visited Israel before.
"I'm very fatalistic about life," he said. "I certainly thought about how people had told me about the danger there. But it turned out not bad and certainly not like it is now.
"Pre-9/11, it was mostly very safe. Day-to-day life had no indication of any danger."
The scariest part for Feinstein was what to expect from the audience.
"Israel is a melting pot, with 25 percent of its population Arab," he said. "A lot of people of different cultures and religions living together peacefully."
Feinstein knew the audience would understand English but he was concerned that they might miss lyrical nuances and subtleties.
"The humor and exquisite turn of a phrase is a big part of the pleasure of this material," he said. "But the audience reaction was wonderful. They appreciated the melodies and effects of every song I sang."
Since 9/11, many of Feinstein's songs have taken on "greater resonance" for audiences, including, for obvious reasons, "God Bless America."
"The standards now really tap into so many feelings and memories for Americans," he said.
The Honolulu shows will include several tunes from the new album, including a very theatrical arrangement of "Stormy Weather," "The Folks Who Live On The Hill" (with the particularly strong imagery of Oscar Hammerstein's lyrics) and a swaggering "By Myself."
" 'Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry' was a challenge because it's so closely associated with Frank Sinatra," Feinstein said.
"If I had to compare myself to Frank I would never open my mouth most of the time," he said. "The only time I do one of his songs is when I can bring something to it."
Feinstein strives to maintain the intentions of the songwriter and not distort the piece -- he calls this "the blueprint" -- then interpret it for his own style.
"If it's not filtered through the personal sensibilities of the performer, the song will be sterile, so why do it?" he said. "It's a fine line between doing an interpretation and going too far afield."
Some people have accused Feinstein of being "puritanical" to the letter of the song.
"They obviously don't know my work very well because I have taken tremendous liberties with songs and that's why I'm popular," he said.
Some songwriters have complained that he takes too many liberties, including Stephen Sondheim.
"He was quite upset that I had changed one note in one of his songs," Feinstein said. "It was funny to me."
Feinstein's next project is a collaboration with Jimmy Webb, doing a combination of the famous composer's old and new songs.
"As long as I can create music, I am happy, and oh so lucky," he said.
Where: Blaisdell Concert Hall Michael Feinstein with the Honolulu Symphony Pops and conductor Matt Catingub
When: 8 p.m. today and tomorrow
Tickets: $15, $27, $32, $42 and $57
Call: 792-2000
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