Michael Feinstein: Swing... in' The Holidays
The popular singer spreads both holiday cheer and tears in this satisfying new show at Feinstein's at Loews Regency.
(© Randee St. Nicholas)
Backed by a superb 12-piece band, led by musical director John Oddo, and a trio of fine female vocalists (cleverly dubbed "The Dreidelettes"), Feinstein starts things on the upswing with an irresistible medley of Jerry Herman tunes ("Before the Parade Passes By"/"We Need a Little Christmas"/"The Best Christmas of All"), followed by a charming new holiday tune entitled "Winter in Manhattan."
He then continues to sprinkle unusual seasonal songs throughout the evening, ranging from Kay Thompson's "Holiday Season" to E.E. Lawrence's "That's What I Want For Christmas" and a Sinatra-inspired rendition of "The Dreidel Song," along with a classic or two, such as "I'll Be Home for Christmas."
Feinstein even slips in a beautiful, if extremely sad, holiday tune called "After the Holidays," which was written by Johnny Meyer for Judy Garland -- and performed by the legendary star only once, a few months before her death, on The Tonight Show.