Palm Beach Pops 2009

Maestro Bob Lappin and company pulled out all the stops in this program, opening up in grand style with a big Sinatra medley that allowed each section to shine.

Although Elvis Presley is generally remembered as "The King," there is another crooner that is fondly remembered to this day as the real deal, the monarch of music royalty: Nat "King" Cole. As a musician, Cole has influenced just about every jazz and pop piano player of the past 50 years, and as a singer, he is considered the gold standard of his generation. The man and his music were honored Wednesday night at the Kravis Center by Bob Lappin & The Palm Beach Pops, with featured guests The John Pizzarelli Quartet. The program was titled "Unforgettable" — and for the most part it was. The evening was a mixed bag — a sumptuous buffet or potluck, depending on your side of the tracks — with something for everyone. Technically, the orchestra was in great form, opening with a complex number, Henry Mancini's Strings On Fire, an up-tempo piece that had the string section hitting on all cylinders.

Maestro Bob Lappin and the Palm Beach Pops delivered a diverse bouquet of arrangements to the Kravis Center Monday night, providing a crowd of loyal followers with a great evening at the Pops. The program was equal parts confection and convection, with several sweet melodies counterbalanced with plenty of le jazz hot, and seasoned with solos from a variety of players. Storming out of the gate with a big, brassy Guys and Dolls medley, the group kicked off a Latin-flavored arrangement of Luck be a Lady featuring percussionist Gary Mayone and tympanist Brad Watson on congas and toms. A poignant take on My Funny Valentine was followed by a great medley of hits from the Cardigan Crooner from Jupiter, Perry Como. This fun trip down memory lane began with the strings carrying the classic melody line from Prisoner of Love in lush fashion. And a solo piano intro of It's Impossible by Lappin was especially sweet.

In an evening of tunes pulled from throughout the Great American Songbook and beyond, Maestro Bob Lappin and The Palm Beach Pops delivered a diverse program Saturday night at the Kravis Center that would more than satisfy any lover of jazz or big band — or just about anyone else for that matter. Singer/composer Michael Andrew — who has headlined everywhere from the Rainbow Room to the Beverly Hilton Hotel — returned to the Kravis stage for the second time within a year to serve as the featured artist for the Martin/Darin tribute, and this seasoned veteran was easily up to the task. Storming out of the gate with Kick In The Head, Andrew jumped in with both feet, at times seeming to almost channel The Dino. A forgettable medley of Martin's holiday hits and song parodies was countered with notable performances of You're Nobody (Til Somebody Loves You), the sultry samba Sway and, of course, Everybody Loves Somebody.

A bit of the Great White Way came to the Kravis Center Monday night courtesy of Maestro Bob Lappin and the Palm Beach Pops, who presented a balanced program of songs from just off Shubert Alley titled On Broadway. The evening began with a refreshing change: no opening medley, just a Pops favorite, their familiar — and impressive — arrangement of the Jerome Kern classic, All The Things You Are, which delivered the rich, lustrous sound only possible with a group of that size and caliber.

It was an evening of peace and love at the Kravis Center Thursday night, as Maestro Bob Lappin and The Palm Beach Pops opened their 17th season with a very special guest, the iconic songstress Judy Collins.