CONCERT REVIEW: Tony Bennett @ Academy of Music 11/4

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CONCERT REVIEW: Tony Bennett @ Academy of Music 11/4

POSTED: Thursday, November 10, 2011, 10:00 AM

Filed Under: Music Concert Review

There are deep crevices — musical ones, emotional too — into which 85-year-old Tony Bennett brings his sense of song. As the last man standing in the saloon that is the standard-bearing songbook, he has done and been it all while remaining clear to his vision. “All the songs I sing are old songs,” said Bennett with a smile from the stage of the Academy of Music, another room (one of the best during his 60 professional years, “my favorite concert hall in the world” he stated) another sell out. “I like the old songs.” The audience loved the old songs in accordance with Bennett’s clear but salty scuffed voice to say nothing of his liquidly inventive band: drummer Harold Jones, guitarist Gray Sargent, pianist Lee Musiker, bassist Marshall Wood. Bennett’s took some gorgeous spins through these time worn tracks. “Watch What Happens” became a coolly cosmopolitan jazz number as he subtly shifted through the phrase “Let someone with a deep love to give/Give that magic to you” – his hand suavely in his pocket -before launching into the jovial “They All Laughed.” As pianist Muskier thundered through some truly theatrical strides, Bennett used his smokiest grainy voice until he power blasted his way through the finale.

After he finished singing the hearty country-pop classic, 1952’s “Cold, Cold Heart” Bennett told the story of a phone call from Williams to the effect of how the New York City Italian had ruined his song. Bennett told how he Bob Hope gave him his stage name and how he and Rosemary Clooney were the first American Idols. He soft shoed and spun handsomely during “I Got Rhythm” and a taut and tender duet of Stephen Sondheim’s “Old Friends” with his daughter Antonia. Bennett let his voice do the prancing during “Just in Time,” “The Best is Yet to Come” and the slower “The Good Life.” Mostly, he worked at hushed and dramatic levels during the stately “The Shadow of Your Smile” and the grand “Because of You,” found currency in Ira Gershwin’s “Who Cares” and it takes on banking and stocks and found the delicate dearness of romance within the silken sluices of “But Beautiful.”

Still amazing.

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