European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 2, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A Phoi singing pianists the subdivision of cabaret to which Michael Folk train belongs usually tinkle la the Back ground at parties rarely a there one with the style and verve to emerge and become a main attraction. Never never land of endless Romance and Beautiful music new York times Ike every other business in Manhattan to Algonquin hotel knew it had to come up with something special by Way of Celebration Lor the statue of Liberty weekend boisterous expressions of patriotism seemed the wrong sort of thing for Tho worldly atmosphere of the place so the Hole booked Tho Young Singer and pianist Michael Feins Lem to entertain the Oak room in a Light penetrating voice thai throbbed with nostalgia Feinstein Langvin Lac Broadway show Lunes and other old songs appropriate to Ihbe occasion pc Nislein 29 and raised in Columbus Ohio created something of a sensation when he made his new York debut at the Algonquin in january. Feinstein who appeared at London s Ritz hotel in july to the brightest Young male Star on the u s. Cabaret circuit cab sick Asil is usually thought of today is a medium in which a Singer invests often familiar Manenal with a personal and sometimes lil Rary Point of View treating popular songs Asil they were Arl songs. Singing pianists the subdivision of cabaret to which Feinstein belongs usually tinkle in the background at parties Only rarely is there one who has the style and verve to emerge from the background and become the main attraction. Most Young pop musicians Feinster s age Revere Bruce Springsteen. Sling and Michael Jackson. But Feinstein idolizes John Green composer of sorry and soul who ran Mem s music department in the 1950s. In february 1985, Liza Man Neffie. A child of the old guard threw a party in Feinstein s Honor Al be Monnan hotel in los Angeles ii was attended by 200 celeb lies. Including Elizabeth Taylor and Joan Collins Minnelli Ovid the honors again at his Oak room opening in january in the Lour month run thai followed Leonard Beslem. Stephen Sondheim liberate by Coleman belly Comden. Kay Swift Charles Strouse Burton Lane. Harvey Schmid and Hal David i Vive among the scores of songwriters and musicians who came to pay their respects on one tuesday evening last Spring. Iho Oak roam was packed at 9.15, Fem Stem wearing a Tuxedo threaded his Way among tha tables to take his Seal at the grand piano in the Center of the narrow room baby faced with Slick dark hair he is a throwback to some of the matinee idols of the 1930s Ana 40s saturday August 1985 languid soft featured men  sultry  were described As coming lion bedroom eyes " Afler a in go introduction he launched into his of prong number.  ski a a few Sttne a vaudeville 5lyl ?  of  will in try Ray Jesse for an episode of the television series the love boat the song Mhos n vengeful View of contemporary pop music your Fri Heep those re Csc scrips. / Lifan t need of has schlock son res. / Only summer Stock songs / so nil me tapping my toe fein siem s Sel in Crovo Romance and sophisticated Wrt intr Odirone a Gershwin Medley he told of the Lime a bbl announcer unwillingly introduced a song by George Gershwin and his Lovely Wile Ira " Tho audience burst into laughter this particular evening Romance outweighed humor Tho audience sat rapt As fins ctn interpreted s wonderful As a heated love song and paid emotional homage to Oscar Levant the hypochondriac Al musical wit and pianist who became George Gershwin s sidekick and most div old interpreter Feinstein was a lonely misfit who willed his Way into a Hollywood dream world he began playing Ilia piano by ear Al age 5 when he War. 12. He heard the slow Lher a of go Shin s Al is Sody in Blic on an andro Kos Slanetz album. It touched me in a Way no other music Ever had " Fem Slom recalled my lather  to play a lot of old 78s of Al Jolson today my Jvonte singers arc still Jolson. Big Crosby. Fred Astaire and Rosemary  during his adolescence Fin slain amassed 6.000 78s and show albums and Aimos As much Sheet music he had Lew intends he never shared his Peers adoration Lor contemporary pop or Rock music know Iho beatles Are As a Troal and significant As the Gersh wms. Hut i could never gel into  he said having hated High school Fei Sloin decided to skip College. In 1976 his parents moved from Columbus to the los Angeles suburb of Canoga Park he Laler joined them and look a Job As a piano Salesman much of his spare Lime was up Cal rummaging through music a Force in los Angeles he was searching Oul an old Oscar Levant record one Day when the store owner mentioned that he had some rare acetate recordings that had once belonged to Levant Feinstein bought them then telephoned the pianist s widow june and informed her of his find mrs Levant invited him to her apartment she was immedi Aljy charmed by him. When he Sal Down at her piano and played several of her Lale husband s songs she was astounded nobody mows Oscar s songs and Here was this kid Lille Mike i used to Call him who knew Allol them she recalled Feinstein quickly became her protege one a she had lunch at the Polo lounge with her close Friend co nor Gershwin wife of a Gershwin the lyricist was to Al the time. She mentioned her discovery. Mrs. Gershwin was intrigued Ira Gershwin s Jong Lime Secretary had recently died and an appointment was Sel up with Feinstein he was Oll Rcd a three week of . The three weeks Sorel Chad Mlo six years As the Young Man organized and catalogued closets full o lyrics and music they adored him recalled mrs Levant he revived a from a deep depress on Michael would sing songs that Ira had for Gollen to had Over written he really became the son that Ira never  Feinstein began to gel himself noticed is Hollywood parties by playing when the pianist hired for the occasion took a break. Liza Minnelli recalled a parly where he was playing and singing the Gersh wms Loulai As i walked by he had forgotten a Lyric and i threw ii to him what i loved Aboul Michael irom the moment i saw him was not what he did but the Way he did it. He s nol Camp and he s not being cute or showing off he has a genuine Streak of Oman cism 1. Too Learned every show tune when i was 13. It was t something you do if you be Gat a Loi of intends and Are the most popular kid at school " Ira Geisha we died in August 19b3. And Feinstein decided to ply his talents in the rare hed world of cabaret Rie was a Success almost at once first in los Angeles icon of san Francisco s plus room the enthusiasm of audiences there persuaded the own is of the Algonquin so Lake a Chance on him. The result was bigger crowds than the Oak room has had in years. When he returns to Tho hotel in january he will command More Money than any performer Ever to appear in the Oak room the stars and stripes Page 17