If time is tight, avoid inquiring about Michael Feinstein’s current endeavors. The explanation can take up to a full day.
The multi-platinum selling, five-time Grammy-nominated musician is currently working on a new album, which he cannot yet discuss. He’s writing a musical that will debut in London called Gold Room. He’s hosting the NPR radio show “Song Travels” in which he interviews musical artists in-depth – guests have included Bobby McFerrin, Liza Minnelli and Ray Fleming – before a collaborative performance. He’s performing regularly at his swank new San Francisco club Feinstein’s at the luxurious Hotel Nikko. And he is in his maiden year as the conductor of the Pasadena Pops, which is his first ever engagement as conductor.
“There’s probably more [endeavors] but I just can’t think of everything right now,” Feinstein says.
Though he has worked with many symphony orchestras throughout his career, the learning curve as conductor has been quite steep. He views each concert as a personal growth experience.
“I have had to learn to translate all the music through my hands and my body and try to communicate to the orchestra,” he says. “Even though it’s something you can learn technically, there are certain things that can’t be taught and certain things you can’t learn in a textbook. Conducting is a personal thing. It’s all about how you communicate to the orchestra.”
Feinstein must be doing OK in his first go around because he’s already been summoned to renew his contract with the Pasadena Pops for a three more years.
But interpreting music, whether he’s using his entire body in front of a full orchestra or simply using his voice and a grand piano, has always been one of Feinstein’s strong suits. He’s been translating the work of other musicians since he was 5 years old. In his 20s, he performed five hours per night in piano bars. At this point, interpreting music comes so naturally for him he’s been regarded as one of the foremost interpreters of American Popular Song.
“It was that heavy workload, even though I loved it, of playing five hours a night [at piano bars] that gave me the experience of how to interpret songs, how to play to an audience, how to learn theatricality because as a performer, it’s much more than being a musician,” Feinstein explains. “If you want to be a performer you must have performing experience and get out of the conservatory.”
Last April, Feinstein implemented his interpretive skills on Change of Heart: The Songs of André Previn, with the 85-year-old Previn, who’s won four Academy Awards and 11 Grammy Awards and is known for scoring Gigi, My Fair Lady and Porgy & Bess. Feinstein chose to include some of Previn’s more obscure works like “Give a Little More” from the 1968 film adaptation of Valley of the Dolls and “Empty Is My Room” from the musical film adaptation of Goodbye, Mr. Chips that ended up never getting made.
Essentially, Feinstein has made a name for himself over the years by making records featuring accompaniments with storied songwriters, which have included Irving Berlin, Jule Styne and Jerry Herman, as they perform their own songs. In fact, these songs are so dear to Feinstein that he was moved to set up the Michael Feinstein Great American Songbook Initiative back in 2008. Its mission: “The preservation, research, and exhibition of the physical artifacts, both published and nonpublished, of the Great American Songbook and educating today’s youth about the music’s relevance to their lives.”
Feinstein defines the GAS as an ever-evolving collection of tunes – from all different eras – that have stood the test of time and have been interpreted over and over again.
“These songs have been interpreted thousands of times because they still have value, pertinence and interest for contemporary audiences,” he says. “You could compare it to Shakespeare or Picasso in that the times change but the truthfulness of the art does not.”
An Evening with the Michael Feinstein Trio tonight at the Sunset Center will feature several pieces from the Great American Songbook by both Gershwin and Cole Porter. Complete with anecdotes, stories, humor and audience interaction, Feinstein’s shows – each one is unique – are a mix of modern and classic.
Feinstein has also written a book (The Gershwins and Me: A Personal History in Twelve Songs), designed a piano for Steinway called “The First Ladies,” and is the artistic director of The Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel (of the Midwest), Ind. But even with a list of accomplishments that’s big enough to cover a couple of lifetimes, Feinstein is always ready – and willing – to take on more.
“I’d like to write more music in different styles, write a show, which I’m already working on, and maybe tackle some larger-form work,” he says. “Creating new music is not something I’ve thoroughly explored yet.”
MICHAEL FEINSTEIN TRIO performs 8pm Thursday, Sept. 12, at Sunset Center, San Carlos Street at Ninth, Carmel. $79; $89; $99; $179. 620-2048.