Michael Feinstein

MICHAEL FEINSTEIN - WITH THE ISRAEL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA (2002)

1. The Folks Who Live On The Hill
2. The Best Is Yet To Come
3. Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry
4. By Myself
5. Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year
6. Stormy Weather
7. Laura
8. On A Clear Day (You Can See Forever)
9. Love Is Here To Stay
10. How Deep Is The Ocean?
11. Somewhere
12. I Won't Send Roses

As it says on the back cover, Michael Feinstein With the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra is the first recording he's made with a symphonic orchestra. For this special occasion, Feinstein and Alan Broadbent -- the conductor and arranger for the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra -- decided to stick to celebrated songs from the great American popular songbook, ranging from "Stormy Weather" and "Laura" to "On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)." Much of this comes across as a slyly romantic, lightly swinging big band session -- less Sinatra and Strings, more a tempered Ring a Ding Ding. That's hardly a bad thing, since it plays up Feinstein's classy, understated delivery and the skillful arrangements of Broadbent. A side-effect is that the album isn't as revelatory as it appears it could be -- it does not uncover a new side of Feinstein, even if it's his first time with a full orchestra -- but that hardly matters when the music is as assured and satisfying as this.