Haley Reinhart at mega-star venue RAVINIA Highland Park, IL 8/29

[Miguel]

Feinstein

WCT: How do you decide on a set list for Ravinia?

MF: The first thing we decided on was using a big band for this gig, because it's so much fun to work with a big band. It's justified with the setting for Ravinia, the size of the place and it's acoustically spectacular. I started working on a repertoire that's a combination of Great American Songbook and Broadway. There will be some contemporary music, meaning dipping into the catalogue of Carole King and James Taylor. There was a second wave of classic American songs with these artists.

We have the incredible addition of Haley Reinhart. Christine Ebersole was supposed to do the engagement, but she got a television series and had to cancel. I was flummoxed by that. Christine is a dear friend and she was upset by that. She is from Winnetka and was looking forward to a reunion with friends.

It occurred to me that maybe Haley would be interested. I have admired her work from afar with videos of Postmodern Jukebox. She performed with Jeff Goldblum down the street from me in L.A. I was thrilled when she said yes. She can sing anything from pop songs to standards. 

http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/...66823.html 

Feinstein:

"It's the first time I'm performing with Haley Reinhart, whom I've admired," he said. "Her singing is classic ... She's got great vocal ability... We've hit it off in our preparation for the show."

Feinstein will be accompanied by a 17-piece band in concert.

https://www.nwitimes.com/entertainment/m...user-share

Haley:

JN: Have you met Michael Feinstein before?

HR: I actually have not. We have spoken on the phone and we have gotten some ideas together. He’s been so kind to ask me to join him on this show. I don’t know if he knew I was from Chicago and how much this would mean to me. This is like playing the Hollywood Bowl on the West Coast. It’s phenomenal that this all worked out.

JN: Are you learning songs to perform with him?

HR: No. We are just discussing a couple of duets and he’s very open to my input on them. He’s such a cool guy. It’s always great to work with someone who is open minded to trying new things and I’m the same way. Michael has been a joy.

N: Macy Gray just her version of that song at Chicago’s big gay street festival. Are you going to play any of your new music?

HR: Yes. I am looking to do the first song I released from that album “Don’t Know How to Love You.” I have the original version and I also went to Vienna and recorded it with a 90 piece orchestra, so I have had a friend take them both and combine them a bit in case I sing it with the band at Ravinia. We will see. It might be spontaneous when we get onstage to rehearse it.

More: http://chicago.gopride.com/news/intervie...id/1405609