L-R Sandi Patty & Don Peslis – Courtesy of Rusty Handlon. Used with permission.
What an absolute delight it was to witness the performances of two of America’s most renowned entertainers, Michael Feinstein with Special Guest Sandi Patty, on Saturday at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel, IN.
Michael Feinstein – Courtesy of Rusty Handlon. Used with permission.
Feinstein, a multiple GRAMMY nominee and founder of the Great American Songbook Foundation, and Artistic Director of Allied Solutions Centre for the Performing Arts, is recognized for his dedication to preserving and interpreting classic American standards, effectively introducing their enduring qualities to contemporary audiences. Patty—often known as “The Voice”—has received five GRAMMY Awards, over 40 Dove Awards, and numerous platinum and gold albums throughout her career. Her work with orchestras, symphonies, and theatrical productions highlights her adaptability across gospel, Broadway, and symphonic pop genres.
The concert presented a repertoire from The Great American Songbook and Broadway. Feinstein performed as the soloist during the first act, while Patty took the lead in the second act. Feinstein’s accompaniment included music director and pianist Joe Alterman, drummer Mark McClean, and bassist David Finck. For Patty’s segment, her music director and pianist, Steve Potts, joined McClean and Finck to provide support.
Feinstein, a passionate music historian, entertained his audience with sardonic humor and sprinkled his performance with interesting facts and stories about his songs and their composers. Notable selections from Feinstein’s performance included Without A Song, Maybe This Time, originally performed by Liza Minnelli in the film Cabaret—Home from The Wiz, as well as a Broadway Medley featuring excerpts of songs themed around Broadway.
Sadie Cohen- Courtesy of Rusty Handlon. Used with permission.
In the middle of Feinstein’s set, two-time Songbook Academy participant Sadie Cohen, a Carmel High School student, was featured in a showstopping interpretation of What Did I Have I Don’t Have Now from the 1970 musical film On A Clear Day You Can See Forever. Doing great justice to a song that Barbra Streisand made famous in her role as Daisy Gamble. Cohen can be seen soon as Chava in Fiddler in the Roof, opening April 24, at the Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre.
Patty, celebrated for her expressive soprano in gospel, showed her range as Dolly Levi in a semi-staged 2011 concert of Hello, Dolly! with the Indianapolis Symphony led by Jack Everly. As noted in a favorable review I wrote at the time, her performance as Dolly, highlighting both her vocal prowess and comedic talent, impressed me greatly. Everly also directed her album Broadway Stories, featuring musical theatre selections.
Reinforcing my admiration for her versatility, warm and personable Patty dazzled me with her set, which thoroughly showcased her prodigious talents. Favorite selections included All of Me, Sandi with an “I”, a take off on Kander & Ebb’s clever Liza with a “Z,” and a premiere performance with her husband Don Peslis, of an exquisite ballad Still I Love You written by Gloria Gaither and her son Benjy. Proving that she can swing with the best of them, Patty performed a medley titled Swingin Love with included excerpts of I Just Found Out About Love, This Can’t Be Love, and Our Love is Here to Stay. One of the most moving moments in her set was her distinctive rendition of Sondheim’s haunting Send in the Clowns from A Little Night Music.
At the end of the concert, Feinstein and Patty performed a duet of What a Wonderful World, a song by Bob Thiele and George Weiss, made famous by Louis Armstrong, highlighting hope, beauty, and life’s simple joys—values both acclaimed artists have championed throughout their fabled careers.
