Still a very classy homage to Sinatra

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor

Randy Smith manages to do the seemingly impossible: His velvety voice articulates the crooner's tunes faithfully and joyfully but without mimicry, while putting Smith's personal stamp on them. 'An Evening With the Music of Sinatra' Featuring Randy Smith in a tribute to Frank Sinatra 7:45 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Esprit lounge, Sheraton Waikiki Hotel $20; drinks extra 922-4422

It's smooth sailing, with Smith's velvet voice gliding, with ease and confidence, through Ol' Blue Eyes' songbook. The show, "An Evening With the Music of Sinatra," is a tribute, not an impersonation, so Smith articulates the master's hits with sheer joy and esteem, not mimicking the master.

What works: Smith's commitment to present the music with respect and allegiance. As directed and written by Jack Cione, the revue informally divides Sinatra's classics into segments, such as "Those Crooning Years," "The Girl" and "Saloon Singer," with both anticipated signatures ("Fly Me to the Moon," "Angel Eyes") and long-lost treasures ("I'll Never Smile Again," "All I Need Now Is a Girl") in sumptuous revival. The riches are many.

What's new: The addition of guitarist-singer John Valentine and soprano Cathy Foy yields freshness to the cast. Valentine is effective and expressive on an Antonio Carlos Jobim sequence with Smith, bringing a bossa-nova element to "Quiet Nights," "Girl From Ipanema" and more. And the live guitar accompaniment, some over pre-recorded tracks, is particularly engaging. Foy's stage voice is grand but overpowering in the little club, and her solos ("Kamehameha Waltz," "Follow Me/I Am Hawai'i," the latter with hula by Joni Albao) add a sense of place, but are a departure from the Sinatra format.

What doesn't work: The live guitar leads to a bigger question involving budget: a live combo, perhaps? Or even a live piano? Certainly, Smith could interplay with musicians, as The Chairman did. And the Esprit, home to Tino and the Rhythm Klub, has emerged as a popular multi-use destination. Consequently, there's a hurried vibe (gotta get everyone in, then out of the club, so the popsters can move in). One thing that's jarring: the stamp-your-hand policy at the door; works for a disco crowd, but Sinatraphiles are older and deserve better.

Our take: The pluses outweigh the minuses. Smith has found his niche in the Waikiki landscape and he's doing it his way. Frankly, he has class.