Larry Alexander
Sinatra… My Way
TheatreZone, Naples, FL, February 8, 2021
Reviewed by Randolph B. Eigenbrode
Taking on the songbook of Ol’ Blue Eyes is no small feat, even for a great vocalist like Larry Alexander. There’s Sinatra’s indelible phrasing and stylistic nuance combined with his undeniable charisma. What could anyone bring to these trademark songs, one after another, that would prevent comparisons?
Yet Alexander indeed found his way around hits like “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” (Cole Porter), “My Way” (Claude François/Jacques Revaux/Paul Anka) and “Come Fly with Me” (Jimmy Van Heusen/Sammy Cahn). Backed by piano, bass, and drums, Alexander’s take on these signature tunes didn’t veer too far from the Chairman’s version. Yet his smooth lyric tenor (and endearing appeal) brought a surprising freshness to the material. And his clever use of patter, detailing his own six degrees of connection to Sinatra, made for effortless transitions into song.
Of course, Alexander comes most alive when paired with more novel arrangements of these chestnuts. A sparse “Send in the Clowns” (Stephen Sondheim) was offset with long phrases and a kinetically charged use of dynamics, conjuring a harrowing battle between hope and defeat. A driving pairing of “That Old Black Magic” (Johnny Mercer/Harold Arlen) and “Witchcraft” (Cy Coleman/Carolyn Leigh) had a razzmatazz punch, punctuated by Alexander’s shimmering Broadway vibrato.
But it was the little-known “The Same Hello, The Same Goodbye” (John Williams/Alan and Marilyn Bergman) that resonated with the most veracity. Alexander’s plaintive approach thankfully avoided the mawkish treatment.
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Perhaps it was the optimistic glimmer in his eyes combined with a no-frills vocal that landed this piece so deftly.
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Even Sinatra might have remarked, “That’s the way you do it, Kid.
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