Feinstein's warm salute to Rosie

Rosemary Clooney gave Michael Feinstein the best advice he ever received – to smile when he sang "because everyone will hear it."

Feinstein learned his lesson well, for he never stopped smiling in his heartfelt tribute to the late Maysville-born star Sunday night with the Cincinnati Pops. Saying he would not be singing on Music Hall's stage were it not for meeting Clooney long ago in Hollywood, the Columbus native made his show personal with funny anecdotes, Hollywood name-dropping and a considerable dose of charm. It was easy to see why Clooney wanted to adopt him as her "sixth kid."

Feinstein's tribute, which formed the evening’s second half, included "Hey There," (a song Clooney recorded as a duet with herself), "Isn't it a Pity" (a Gershwin tune Feinstein and Clooney recorded together) and an orchestral medley of Clooney hits led by her longtime music director, John Oddo, in a Nelson Riddle-like orchestration.
But the evening’s showstopper came last with "White Christmas," in a sweetly nostalgic arrangement with Oddo at the piano. Feinstein's performance was genuine and beautifully felt.

There was no "Come On-a My House," the pop hit which Clooney merely endured, but which made her a star. But there was what she called her "Revenge Medley," which Feinstein says was a gift to him from the singer. The sharp-witted pastiche included "I Cried for You," "Who's Sorry Now?" and "Goody Goody." Feinstein began softly, accompanied by a six-piece band (including Oddo on piano, Douglas Lindsay on trumpet and Rick VanMatre on sax) and ramped it up to a swinging jazz set, as he belted it out.

Which brings up one annoying point all evening – the sound system was too harsh when the singer cranked it up a notch, for instance in "Alexander's Ragtime Band."

So Feinstein, who also rippled wonderfully at the piano, was most appealing when his sound was smooth and unforced. Cole Porter's "I Concentrate on You" was one of the evening's gems, sung as a swaying Jobim-influenced samba arranged by Oddo.

Between songs, the stories were fun, as Feinstein chatted about his and Clooney’s Hollywood milieu: Oscar Levant, Fred Astaire, George and Ira Gershwin and Harry Warren, the most famous songwriter you never heard of ("Lullaby of Broadway"). He pulled up a stool to croon the Gershwin classic "They Can't Take That Away From Me," as the Pops strings and trombones provided a mellow backdrop.

Feinstein's first half, with standards such as "Stormy Weather," seemed slow to pick up and a bit disconnected. One of the highlights was and warm and communicative "How Do You Keep the Music Playing" by Michel Legrand and Marilyn and Alan Bergman. (He's planning a salute to the Bergmans at his New York club, Feinstein's at the Regency.)

He changed the lyrics in "How About You?" to, "Nina Clooney's looks give me a thrill," as he scanned the crowd for Kentucky royalty. Sure enough, Rosemary's brother Nick and wife Nina took a bow, choosing to be at the tribute rather than at the Oscars, where son George was nominated for best actor.

What did you think? Rate and review this concert at cincinnati.com.entertainment. The Pops repeats at 3 p.m. Sunday. 513-381-3300, www.cincinnatipops.org