Frank Sinatra was far more than the swaggering leader of the “Rat Pack” or the unmistakable voice behind “New York, New York.” He helped elevate popular music into an art form. As Eric Comstock, co-creator and performer of Our Sinatra: a Musical Celebration, observes, “No one did more to make pop music an art form.” This lively production proves his point.
The show’s original creators and performers—Eric Comstock, Christopher Gines, and Hilary Kole—bring Sinatra’s music back to the stage without attempting to impersonate him. Instead, they revisit songs he recorded from the 1940s through the 1960s, including standards, torch songs, and swinging classics. Taking turns with selections from Sinatra’s vast catalog, the trio reminds audiences of the extraordinary scope of a career that included more than 1,500 studio recordings and appearances in 58 films.
Photo Credit: Russ Rowland
Comstock opens with “Come Fly with Me,” then accompanies the singers on piano alongside bassist Marco Panascia. The restrained arrangements support the songs rather than overwhelm them, allowing each performance to shine. Several numbers are especially memorable: Kole delivers a dramatic “I’m a Fool to Want You,” Gines offers a powerful “Ol’ Man River,” and Comstock performs “Everything Happens to Me,” including lyrics added three decades after Sinatra first recorded the song.
From the piano, Comstock also serves as the evening’s witty and engaging host. Gines and Kole move on and offstage as the trio races through a fast-paced jukebox of Sinatra favorites. Kole brings a distinctive jazz sensibility, while Gines evokes Sinatra’s familiar hand and arm gestures without turning the performance into an imitation. The show touches on nearly every iconic corner of Sinatra’s repertoire, capturing both the precision and emotional range of his music. A 26-song “monster medley” builds to an exuberant audience sing-along of “New York, New York.”
Photo Credit: Russ Rowland
Running 90 minutes without intermission, Our Sinatra: a Musical Celebration packs 50 songs from across Sinatra’s career into a brisk, joyful evening. By resisting imitation and focusing instead on the craft, passion, and enduring appeal of the music, the performers offer more than a nostalgic tribute. They make a compelling case for why Sinatra’s songs still deserve to be heard—and celebrated.
