Music review: Tony Bennett – ‘Tony Bennett Celebrates 90’
Tony Bennett sure knows how to hold a celebration.
The legendary singer celebrated his 90th birthday with a few special friends during a September performance at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall. A variety of notable artists attended the festivities as a tribute to Bennett’s iconic career.
I can still fondly recall Bennett’s smooth voice coming from our family stereo during my early childhood. My parents would regularly play an assortment of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Perry Como and Bennett as a way of providing a relaxing soundtrack to our laid-back weekends. Bennett’s 1968 “Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album” has always been one of my personal favorite holiday records and always has a way of making me feel like a kid at Christmas.
Bennett has always had a knack for getting singers to join him on a classic tune or two. His duet-inspired albums from 2006 and 2011 featured artists such as Barbra Streisand, Paul McCartney, Bono, Sting, Amy Winehouse, Aretha Franklin, John Mayer, Norah Jones and Carrie Underwood.
On his latest release, Bennett gets things started with a swinging bang as he joins Lady Gaga for a performance of “The Lady Is a Tramp.” Gaga follows with a stunning solo performance on “La Vie en Rose.”
Other standout performances include Andrea Bocelli on “Ave Maria,” Elton John with “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” Diana Krall’s offering of “I’ve Got the World on a String” and k.d. lang’s delivery of “A Kiss to Build a Dream On.”
Leslie Odom Jr. is a jazzy delight on “Autumn Leaves” and Rufus Wainwright’s “I Can’t Give You Anything but Love” is simply dreamy. Stevie Wonder is on hand to serenade “Happy Birthday” to Bennett and Kevin Spacey makes a surprising appearance on “The Very Thought of You/If I Ruled the World Medley.”
Bennett shines alone in the spotlight on memorable arrangements like “The Best Is Yet to Come,” “I Got Rhythm” and “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”
For me, the highlight of the album comes with the paring of two fellow New Yorkers. Bennett and Billy Joel get the crowd involved on a soulful and spirited version of Joel’s “New York State of Mind.” Bennett may have left his heart in San Francisco, but he’ll always be a New Yorker through and through.
Bennett has covered a tremendous amount of ground since his first hit back in 1951. Fortunately, he shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.