Music Review:

Burbank, known mostly for its entertainment studios and the airport, is also home to a bundle of intriguing restaurants. On Friday nights, one restaurant in particular transforms from your typical “home away from home” family restaurant into a swank, hip, fun and cool dining experience for those looking to start their weekend right.

From 6 to 9 p.m. every Friday, Theresa’s Family Restaurant on West Olive Avenue plays host to incomparable pianist Rob Correll. The evening is suited for all ages or anyone who enjoys good music, good food and good people.

As you enter Theresa’s, there is a sense of a family experience, but with the addition of Correll, you feel like you have walked in on a private dinner party for the Sinatra family. Playing a combination of jazz classics and original tunes, Correll is obviously no stranger to the 88 keys on a piano. He plays and sings with vigor for life that carries over well for all those enjoying the very affordable meals at Theresa’s.

The word that comes to mind when listening to Correll is “cool.” He is definitely a fan of the Rat Pack era, as it comes across heavily in his demeanor, style and music. But please don’t try to label him or place him in some sort of musical box because he plays a wide range of music that appeals to the young and seasoned alike.

As some restaurant-goers quietly enjoyed their meals and acknowledged his presence with a simple head nod, others were humming and toe tapping along to the intricate jazz rhythms coming from his voice and piano.

With the women appreciating the sultry groove of songs like “A Night In Tunisia” and the men loving the swing-like appeal of “Kickin’ Back the Chicken Shack,” Correll was a hit with the crowd. His passion for performing not only comes across in the aggressive way he strokes the keys, but also in the stories he relays to the audience. He is a master at engaging his crowd.

That mastery of his art has come from years of experience and playing alongside the likes of Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Hoagy Carmichael and others. Composing songs since age 4, he has known for quite some time what his true calling would be. He has toured across the United States, Canada, Japan and Europe. He has released a critically acclaimed album, “It’s Groovy, Baby!” that garnered quite a bit of attention among jazz lovers.

If the monotony of the week has got you feeling the routine gloom, then start your Friday night at Theresa’s Family Restaurant and watch this “home away from home” restaurant transform into a groove shack.

?HASSAHN LIGGINS has reviewed artists from the soulful sounds of John Legend to the acoustic grooves of John Mayer for publications worldwide. ?HASSAHN LIGGINS has reviewed artists from the soulful sounds of John Legend to the acoustic grooves of John Mayer for publications worldwide.