Has there ever been a performer that could match Frank Sinatra’s velvety voice and charisma? Whether on stage or screen, or hanging out in Vegas with the rest of the “Rat Pack”, Ol’ Blue Eyes embodied cool. There wasn’t a dame or a daddy-o who didn’t fall under his spell, and that magic is still obvious today as the current generation seems to yearn for the glamour and sophistication of mid-century America, where a man and a microphone promised to “love you, like nobody’s loved you …”
If you, too, long for an evening of sophisticated entertainment, check out Trae Gurley’s show of Sinatra standards at ARTworks on Friday night. This Savannah-based performer has a long-standing gig at Jazz’d and other downtown clubs, and has played the Lucas Theatre’s Cabaret Series several times. If there is performer “royalty” in the Lowcountry, Trae Gurley is it. However, he is very humble and down-to-earth about his career and how he got his start.
Describing himself as “one of Sinatra’s biggest fans”, he has studied the life, sound, and even movements of the crooner in order to better honor his memory. Some of those stories about Sinatra’s life will also find their way into his performance at ARTworks, as he interacts with both the audience and his pianist, Kim Steiner, a member of the Performance Arts Department at SCAD and a former Broadway music director.
The small size of the ARTworks theatre, lends its self to a cabaret style show, and Gurley promises to deliver an intimate performance that includes sentimental favorites like “Night And Day”, “One For My Baby”, and “Autumn Leaves.”
The performance will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, November 14th at ARTworks, 2127 Boundary Street, Beaufort, in Beaufort Town Center. Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased on the ARTworks website: www,beaufortcountyarts.com or by calling 843-379-2787.
