Frank talk, music of Sinatra from jazz singer Susan Chastain, in town for 2 shows at Kerrytown

Chastain counts herself a longtime Sinatra fan. “He started in 1939 and went into the 1990s, transcending generations,” she said. “You’ve got to respect him and you’ve got to love him.”

She said to expect the classics, such as “New York, New York,” and a few others that aren’t so well known. “I am trying to do some from each period, each decade. He did an amazing recording of songs by (Antonio Carlos) Jobim, and Phil DeGreg, that’s his thing. He spent several months in Brazil studying the music there. … I want to do some of that set so (Phil) and spread his wings.”

Between the songs, Chastain said he plans to share anecdotes about Sinatra’s life and career.

“I’ve been studying up on it (and) I respect him tremendously … He was a consummate musician he was a true performer,” Chastain said. “And I’ll tell little stories about how he started—he heard Bing Crosby sing and that was it … he heard that and said ‘That’s what I am going to do,’ and he did. He made himself and he was lucky, but he studied hard and became a great musician.”

The show, co-sponsored by the Southeastern Michigan Jazz Association, is part of the Kerrytown Club Series, meaning the concert house will be set up to resemble a nightclub as much as possible, with a cash bar available.

Chastain last performed in Ann Arbor in 2011. Since moving to Florida she’s also been spending time discovering musical opportunities in the St. Augustine area. She’s also on the mend from a hip replacement that’s had her sidelined most recently.

“There are a lot of gigs around here for duos … I’ll get working down here again. When I first came down here, for the first year, I didn’t listen to music. I sang songs with my grandson. It’s a different life,” she said.