Michael Feinstein's American Songbook

This three-part PBS-aired documentary series finds singer-pianist Michael Feinstein performing the songs he loves and indulging his passion for collecting and preserving sheet music, recordings, and other artifacts from the glory days of the Great American Songbook—visiting flea markets and storage trailers in search of lost treasure, while also interviewing the elderly associates of famous singers, composers, and band leaders. Along the way, snippets of archival audio and video footage are used to provide additional historical context. Part one looks at the contributions of former big-band crooners like Frank Sinatra and Rosemary Clooney, who remained faithful to the standards, even as rock 'n' roll exploded in 1950s America. In the second section, viewers travel back to World War II, a time when music was used to inspire the patriotism of soldiers and build morale at home, with many tunes—including sentimental love songs like “You'll Never Know”—retaining their popularity long after the war. The final episode covers the Prohibition era, with its jazz scene and popular but segregated nightclubs, early radio broadcasts, and burgeoning need for songwriters, as talkies replaced silent movies. Throughout, Feinstein performs key songs and discusses his friendships with Ira Gershwin and other greats, while insights into Feinstein's life and career are provided by his parents and domestic partner. Producer-director Amber Edwards achieves a nice balance between musical performance and history lesson in this winning series sure to appeal to fans of early-to-mid-20th-century American popular music. DVD extras include two hours worth of additional performances and archival footage. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)