Raissa Katona Bennett at Feinstein's, performing the music of Jerome Kern, made for a wonderful evening of nostalgia for me as Bennett, a classical singer with a lovely voice, sensitively sang the songs I associate with my youth -- including my mother's two favorites: "All the Things You Are" and "The Way You Look Tonight."
Bennett's a Broadway actress as well as a singer, and she brings her personal touch to classics, from cute, clever lyrics to sexy ballads. It's a pleasure to hear a real singer perform a range of Kern's work from smart, catchy songs to the powerful, "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man of Mine." They don't make better than the hot, first-class musical duo accompanying her: Don Rebic on piano and Tom Hubbard on bass. Bennett has great charm, and this old man was quite moved by her singing and her persona.
