Is it possible that a laid-back, dreamy-voiced crooner of smallish stature and a tall, sometimes ditzy blond with a gorgeous big Broadway voice could blend?  You betcha! Especially when they are Michael Feinstein and Christine Ebersole, who are such good friends!  They are joyous to watch and hear as they capture the sparkle and fizz that makes great entertainment.

These two lovers of cats and dogs have much more in common as they celebrate the classic and not so classic songs. Although Feinstein puts in his fair share of time at the mic, it’s double the pleasure when he accompanies himself at the piano, which he did several times, including on “How Little We Know” (Carmichael/Mercer) and as part of several duets. There are moments reminiscent of the close harmonic blends of Manhattan Transfer as the two duet on “Where or When” (Rodgers/Hart), segueing into Porter’s “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” including counterpoint.

Ebersole’s “Love Isn’t Born, It's Made” turns Schwartz/Loesser’s swinging novelty, from the movie Thank Your Lucky Stars, into a spicy rendition, while evoking a sad and touching urgency with John Wallowitch’s “This Moment,” her voice crystalline. “Embraceable You” (George & Ira Gershwin) presented a unique creative arrangement as each sang melody while the other sang, as counterpoint, a background of lyrics from at least nine other Gershwin tunes including “It Ain’t Necessarily So,” “Someone to Watch Over Me,” "Fascinating Rhythm," “A Foggy Day (In London Town),” etc. It worked!

Their camaraderie was ever present as charming banter set up the tunes, especially as he presented many of the explanations for her songs. Feinstein probably surprised not only himself but his audience as the usually sedate crooner performed a hip, swingin’ “A Lot of Livin’ to Do” (Strouse/Adams) as Ebersole stole our hearts with “The Music That Makes Me Dance” (Styne/Merrill). Jerry Herman’s “Kiss Her Now"/"I Don’t Want to Know” was a big and beautiful grand duet ending on Feinstein’s bell tone falsetto.

“Two for the Road” (Mancini/Bricusse) brought this incomparable evening to a close.

The exceptional arrangements were by Musical Director John Oddo. The band consisted of Aaron Heick, reeds; George Rabbai, trumpet; Jim Saporito, drums and David Finck, bass.

Sandi Durell
Cabaret Scenes
September 8, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org