Music review: Tony Bennett – 鈥楾ony Bennett Celebrates 90鈥�
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鈥檚 Radio City Music Hall. A variety of notable artists attended the festivities as a tribute to Bennett鈥檚 iconic career.
I can still fondly recall Bennett鈥檚 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鈥檚 1968 鈥淪nowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album鈥� 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 鈥淭he Lady Is a Tramp.鈥� Gaga follows with a stunning solo performance on 鈥淟a Vie en Rose.鈥�
Other standout performances include Andrea Bocelli on 鈥淎ve Maria,鈥� Elton John with 鈥淐an You Feel the Love Tonight,鈥� Diana Krall鈥檚 offering of 鈥淚鈥檝e Got the World on a String鈥� and k.d. lang鈥檚 delivery of 鈥淎 Kiss to Build a Dream On.鈥�
Leslie Odom Jr. is a jazzy delight on 鈥淎utumn Leaves鈥� and Rufus Wainwright鈥檚 鈥淚 Can鈥檛 Give You Anything but Love鈥� is simply dreamy. Stevie Wonder is on hand to serenade 鈥淗appy Birthday鈥� to Bennett and Kevin Spacey makes a surprising appearance on 鈥淭he Very Thought of You/If I Ruled the World Medley.鈥�
Bennett shines alone in the spotlight on memorable arrangements like 鈥淭he Best Is Yet to Come,鈥� 鈥淚 Got Rhythm鈥� and 鈥淚 Left My Heart in San Francisco.鈥�
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鈥檚 鈥淣ew York State of Mind.鈥� Bennett may have left his heart in San Francisco, but he鈥檒l 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.