Music Monday: David Hyde Pierce Sings Porter, Berlin, Kander, and Herman

    

     I don't know why I, David Hyde Pierce Mega-Fan, didn't think of posting this sooner.

     Michael Feinstein, singer, pianist, and stalwart champion of American song, has been doing a radio series called "Song Travels with Michael Feinstein," produced by South Carolina ETV and distributed by NPR. Among his recent guests were Liza Minnelli, Bette Midler, classical violinist Joshua Bell, pianist Jeremy Denk, and ... David Hyde Pierce. As one would expect, David is great at patter songs and character numbers, but he also handles ballades very well. His renditions in this program of Kander's "Your Face" and Porter's "Dream Dancing" are really quite affecting. As a vocalist, David reminds me very much of Fred Astaire (who I think is a sadly underrated singer) -- their precision with text, the way they "turn" a phrase, and even their vocal range and the way they both approach higher notes. Cole Porter preferred Astaire to other, more vocally gifted singers, because of Astaire's impeccable style and, more importantly, his musicianship and adherence to the written notes and rhythms -- Astaire rarely altered rhythms, and almost never "riffed." These things are also true about David, and I think if Porter were alive today, he would be very pleased with the way David sings his music.  I hope you enjoy this delightful hour-long segment of song and conversation by clicking this link:

David Hyde Pierce on "Song Travels with Michael Feinstein"
    
Program order:

     Irving Berlin: "A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody" - Pierce (voice), Feinstein (piano)

     Beethoven: Piano Concerto no. 1 (fragments) - Pierce (piano)

     John Kander: "Lunch Counter Mornings and Coffee Shop Nights" 
     from the Original Cast Recording of Curtains - Pierce (voice) with Jill Paice

     Jerry Herman: "Penny in My Pocket" - Pierce (voice), Feinstein (piano)

     John Kander: "Your Face" - Pierce (voice), Feinstein (piano)

     Rodgers & Hart: "Blue Moon" - Feinstein (voice and piano)

     DuPrez & Idle: "You Won't Succeed on Broadway" (fragment)
     from the Original Cast Recording of Spamalot - Pierce (voice)
     [click here to watch a live video of the whole hilarious number]

     Cole Porter: "Dream Dancing" from You'll Never Get Rich - Pierce (voice), Feinstein (piano)

     Cole Porter: "You're the Top" - Pierce (voice), Feinstein (voice and piano)

Actor David Hyde Pierce arrives for the opening night of the Broadway show 'Evita' in New York, April 5, 2012. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri