What a day this has been, what a rare mood I'm in - so sang Michael Feinstein at Sage Gateshead in what must rank as possibly the most enjoyable vocal concert I've been to since I saw Ella back in 1956.
It had been quite a day for me also as my previous two posts will attest to.
Feinstein is one of those performers who grab you from the first note and never let go. The voice control, the swing, the piano playing and, not least, the anecdotes relating to the songs and their composers.
Too many songs to list - the closing Sinatra medley had at least a dozen, each one seamlessly segueing into the next. Then there were the requests which again came out as one including a big favourite of mine, Blame it on my Youth - pure magic.
Equally magical were the piano bass and drums (Feinstein played piano on some numbers and took the traditional crooner's stance at the mic on others) who gave the singer the perfect backing.
This was like seeing Frank or Tony at their peak - Feinstein completely obliterated any of the current crop of would be ratpackers and the standing ovation was no less than he deserved.
Catch him if you can - he's at Bristol tonight and Cadogan Hall in London tomorrow.
This wasn't just one of those things, it was one of the things! - Lance
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