It is the most perfect summer evening that anyone could imagine. And if you don’t believe me, then Frank Sinatra Jr. will be saying the same in just about two hours. He’s about to appear this evening to kick off the Seaside Summer Concerts. This is one of the city’s better-kept secrets, with the shows performed right between Coney Island and Brighton Beach at Asser Levy Seaside Park. There’ll be six more this season, but things won’t be getting any better than Frank Jr. and the Brooklyn Philharmonic.
This is also the most Brooklyn of the city’s summer concerts. As usual, the event starts with Borough President Marty Markowitz rambling on from the bandshell. He’s always got a lot to discuss with his fellow Brooklynites. He goes on tonight about how he’s doing on a well-publicized diet. He also endorses a local ice cream company and makes several important local announcements. These include the "25th anniversary of some of the best senior housing in America," and an upcoming singles night for Brooklyn residents over the age of 40.
Markowitz then introduces a local gal to present a few citations. We’re told that it’s "Welcome Back to Brooklyn, Bill Miller, Day," and the two salute the ancient pianist whose long career now has him accompanying two generations of Sinatras. Then Markowtiz adds that there’s also a plaque here for Frank Jr., saluting his "timeless effort for bringing musical pleasures to his many fans." Frank Jr. comes out to accept and surrenders any chance for a later grand entrance. He just strolls onto the stage dressed in khaki pants and a light dress shirt. The guy looks ready to go antiquing.
He graciously accepts his plaque from the lady. "I thought she wouldn’t like me," Frank announces, "because I live in Los Angeles and we took the Dodgers." That’s the kind of gag that still works on an audience with a median age of 60. Naturally, this audience responds with a big laugh.
Frank Jr. then heads backstage, and–after the obligatory moment of silence for Brooklyn 9/11 casualties–we get a performance from Miss USO 2002. This is another gag that works best on this kind of audience. They aren’t likely to wonder why Miss USO 2002 isn’t out entertaining troops at war. Besides, today’s military wouldn’t have much patience for this kind of cheerleader. She’s much safer working this crowd.
Miss USO 2002 is very sparkly, and she keeps a big smile beaming throughout her tribute to our great country. The taped backing begins with "God Bless America," but soon moves on to Branson favorites like a medley of "You Are So Beautiful" and "He Ain’t Heavy (He’s My Brother)." It’s all pretty funny until we have to suffer through another rendition of "God Bless the U.S.A."
Then she brings out two more USO ladies to create a kind of Ebony, Ivory and Ivory salute to the U.S. armed forces. This sets up stirring soliloquies like, "I am the flag of the United States of America…" I’m all for innocence and shameless national pride, but this is really too schlocky for even the best Republican.
It’s a good thing the USO is so bereft of ideas. Otherwise, this segment could go on even longer. Instead, the orchestra strolls up to the stage at 8:45, in front of a "Sinatra" backdrop that looks like it was hauled out of Dad’s garage. Nothing wrong with that, though. Frank Jr. inherited a lot from Dad, including a great voice. He’s just minus the charisma, as demonstrated when he comes back onto the stage. He’s wearing the same dull outfit as when he came out to accept his plaque.
It’s not too exciting when he opens with "Swing on a Star," either. The audience, however, is perfectly content to hear the son sounding so much like the Legend–who, throughout the evening, will only be referred to as "Ol’ Blue Eyes." Frank Jr. then wisely follows with "I Wish I Was in Love Again." This is a nice showcase for how Frank Jr. has turned his warped genes into an asset. Instead of trying to match his father as a song stylist, Frank Jr.’s gone with being a laid-back master of the Perry Como school. He can really work that mannered phrasing, too, as is quickly shown in a jazzy take on "Surrey with the Fringe on Top."
That one’s followed by "’S Wonderful," introduced as being "by a local boy." A place like Coney Island gives Frank Jr. a lot of opportunities to invoke those local boys. The crowd is already solidly behind the No. 1 Son, even though he’s upfront enough to keep the night going as a tribute to the True Frank. He occasionally departs from the expected hits, though, including a fun take on "The Coffee Song."
He’s good with the patter, like tossing off a goof on the motorcycle pack that roars past during one of his introductions. Like a lot of guys–Bobby "Blue" Bland coming to mind–Frank Jr. might do us all a favor by hitting the lecture circuit. This is further proven during what Frank Jr. calls the "Narration Section," where he goes into some detail about the origin of certain classic songs and arrangements. He was, don’t forget, his dad’s musical director in the final years. Nobody else his age knows the stories any better.
Frank Jr. puts on a long show, which gives people the chance to marvel at how nice it is to stroll around a park as he sings in the background. It really does feel like a perfect summer evening–unless, that is, a person wanders too far to the park’s other side. Lights are flashing as an ambulance loads in some poor old woman. Maybe the show was too much for the Last of the Bobbysoxers. Or maybe it’s inevitable that an ambulance will appear in any neighborhood with this many old people. Still, it’s a sobering reminder as a snippet of "My Way" ends the show. Even in the midst of Frank Jr., we are in death.
