by Jonathan Warman

The new duet CD by classic crooner Michael Feinstein and bodacious Broadway boy Cheyenne Jackson, “The Power Of Two,” opens with our two handsome, out fellas gushing over each other to the tune of Cy Coleman’s “I’m Nothing Without You.” They follow that up with “Me and My Shadow” made famous as a duet between Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr.

Despite how little they physically resemble Frank and Sammy, the comparison is oddly apt. Feinstein is, and Sinatra was, his time’s greatest popularizer of the Great American Songbook.  Jackson is, and Davis was, one of the great musical theatre showmen of his day as well as arguably one of the best vocalists. So, yes, like Sinatra and Davis, but oh, so much gayer.

Feinstein wrings every note out of “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter” and Jackson rattles the rafters with an open-throated “Don’t Get around Much Anymore.” But just as often they turn in all seriousness to gay subject matter. Michael solos on “The Time Has Come,” a moving ballad written by a gay songwriter in the aftermath of Stonewall. And later they have a gorgeously restrained romantic duet on “We Kiss in a Shadow.”

For more reviews and interviews by Jonathan Warman, see dramaqueennyc.com.