Bob Powers

MARIETTA, OH, USA - Sometimes we tend to undervalue those who are in our midst. It takes years, perhaps, to find out that a performer we thought of as just one of the fellows has made giant strides in his career, to the point where he deserves a new look and listen.

It's been at least two decades since I first heard the voice and piano work of Michael Feinstein, a performer who grew up in the Columbus suburb of Bexley and who has been churning out new albums at a busy pace. For awhile, Feinstein worked occasionally with his dear friend Rosemary Clooney. I saw him in concert numerous times, but when he shared the bill with Rosemary, I found it difficult to pay much attention to his work.

I was introduced a couple of times over those years, but I'm sure he wouldn't recognize my face if he was offered a million bucks to identify me by name. I'm certain that in my reviews of albums bearing the Feinstein label, I've written some comments that I now wish I could bury too deep to ever emerge.

With the release of his new Concord Records album, "Only One Life: The Songs of Jimmy Webb," Michael Feinstein has produced the best work of his long career. It is an album that should attract a wide new audience as well as delight his long-time fans who have been waiting for the "big one" to make Feinstein the prominent performer that he should become.

The album notes observe that Webb, who was a major writer of hits several decades ago, has continued to write music and lyrics that are deeply edged in romance and contain matters that examine life as we know it. Several of the songs included on this album will hit the bull's eye, while others may require a few spins before being added to your list of favorites.

The album opens with a medley of "All the Loves of My Life" and "Only One Life," which is done with such sincerity and charm that you may find eyes turning wet. Strangely enough, Feinstein and Webb met in 1990, long after Webb had become a major pop composer and Feinstein was working the concert circuit. On the night they met, the occasion was a Rosemary Clooney concert, because after all, everybody loved Rosie.

Feinstein says his challenge in this new album was to find ways to interpret Webb's songs, which have become major hits for other performers. Feinstein has no trouble in giving new life to such wonderful tunes as "Up, Up and Away," "She Moves, Eyes Follow" and "Is There a Love After You?" The latter is a simply stunning melody with words that will reach right in and touch your heart.

Michael Feinstein has a tall stack of CDs that have been released over the past few decades, and he has a steady crowd of fans who will show up in the record shops and turn out at a nearby concert hall every year or three for his latest concert tour. If you're not among the fans of Feinstein, give yourself an early Christmas present with "Only One Life." It's a dandy and you will thank me for bringing for bringing Michael's best to your attention.

Madeline's 'Speed'

While Madeline Eastman doesn't make cash registers jingle all that loud with each new album, it's time that she attract a much larger audience than the one that has her Web site memorized (www.madelineeastman.com). This pretty young lady has a new album in the stories and you're foolish if you love jazz and don't make "The Speed of Life" (Mad Kat Records).

Jazz singers aren't in ample supply these days, and jazz singers who have the stunning talent of Ms. Eastman are rare birds, indeed. She sings with such authority, such understanding of the lyrics she sings, such cleverness and poignancy that the listener smiles, then thinks, then realizes that Madeline Eastman is one of the best of the breed. She sings jazz as if it were the easiest way in the world to make a buck. It's not easy and no one reports her heading down the street in San Francisco to her bank with big bags being dragged behind her.

Sometimes we do what we must do. Madeline Eastman sings jazz, does it beautifully, and it's important that those who care about great jazz vocalists will do their duties, mainly by supporting a great singer. "The Speed of Life" is easily the best effort made by Eastman, and jazz fans should listen and recommend it to all their friends who appreciate such special talents.

The new disc has a wide range of songs, including oldies, a few new things, and material not heard in too long a time. The set opens with a fine version of "Alone Together," which slides smoothly into the Donny Hathaway winner, "Someday We'll All Be Free." "Do I Hear a Waltz?" (from Richard Rodgers and Stephen Sondheim) comes next, then Eastman slides into the Carole King classic, "Up on the Roof."

The Rodgers and Hart dazzler, "There's a Small Hotel" precedes the Rodgers and Hammerstein winner, "We Kiss in a Shadow." Right, you've got it, this is an album with music chosen carefully and with finesse. The dozen tunes fashioned by Ms. Eastman make this a smashing production.

Oscar's Greatest

When the final vote is taken of the greatest jazz pianists ever, Oscar Peterson's name will rank way up there. If you're a jazz fan with little or no knowledge of the contributions made by Peterson, I suggest you start saving up shekels in order the purchase the new four-disc package from Pablo Records. "Oscar Peterson: Dimensions" paints a powerful portrait of one of the great performers in all of jazz history.

Peterson has been called the greatest inheritor of the genius of Art Tatum, and these four discs powerfully provide an amazing amount of evidence that Peterson has few competitors in the same area of expertise.

The boxed set includes 25 performances recorded all over the world, along with 21 tracks done in the studio, with all these spectacular efforts produced by the famed jazz impresario, Norman Granz.

Included on these special recordings are some of the great names in jazz history, including Count Basie, the Duke Ellington Orchestra (without the Duke), Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Coleman Hawkins, and Joe Pass.

You'll be playing these discs for a long, long time.

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