Frank Sinatra: The Second Century

Feinstein’s/54 Below, NYC, December 30, 2019
Reviewed by Ron Forman

The 31st edition of Scott Siegel’s Sinatra: The Second Century at Feinstein’s/54 was one of the very best in the series. He put together a cast of six remarkable singers, each performing classic songs associated with Frank Sinatra in their own unique manner, accompanied by music director Ron Abel. Abel had a solo piano interlude in almost every number that invariably brought applause from the audience. As is the case in all of Siegel’s productions, his introductory comments to each song were interesting, informative, and also quite amusing.

Gabrielle Stravelli opened the show appropriately with a slowed down un-Sinatra-like but very nice “Fly Me to the Moon.” Marcus Lovett dynamically performed “The Lady Is a Tramp.” He began his second number, “Mack The Knife,” slowly then kept speeding up the tempo, his actions and facial expressions frequently drawing laughter. Frank Sinatra went into the studio to record Billy Strayhorn’s “Lush Life” but was unsatisfied with his attempt and never recorded it. However, the precocious sixteen-year-old Anaïs Reno made you forget her youth with her dramatic and moving version, accompanied perfectly by Abel. Willy Falk sang a very romantic “My Romance” and “The Song Is You,” featuring a dazzling solo by Abel and ending as the young Sinatra did, holding the final note on the word “you.” Lianne Marie Dobbs proved with her big sound, facial expressions, and a walk through the audience that a female could do justice to “I Like to Lead When I Dance.” Her soft and dramatic second number was as good a performance of “That’s All” as I have witnessed. Cooper Grodin started one of the best performances I have heard of “The House I Live In” softly and built to a big and quite moving climax, Stravelli returned next to closing to belt a bluesy “Blues in the Night.” Grodin closed this extraordinarily entertaining show with the audience joining him in a lively “That’s Life.”