Tony
Bennett INFO & NEWS
Review
Classic Bennett
The singer ditched the microphone to show his vocal vigor, and
unveiled a song he has written. He's 78? You got to be kidding!
By GINA VIVINETTO, Times Pop Music Critic
Published February 26, 2005
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CLEARWATER - For those among the 2,182 fans at Friday's soldout
Tony Bennett performance at Ruth Eckerd Hall who had seen the
legendary singer before, the evening had some repeat moments.
But those were beautiful moments to be sure.
Bennett, dressed in a dapper navy suit, estimated it was his
18th appearance at the hall, one of his favorite venues in the
nation. As he has done countless times in the past, Bennett tossed
aside the mike late in the show and sang a cappella to both demonstrate
his vocal vigor and the venue's top-notch acoustics.
Not bad for a 78-year-old. However, when you consider Bennett's
had 50 years of practice, what do you expect? The wonderful thing
is, Bennett, who has sold more than 50-million records, has won
12 Grammys and has toured the world countless times, still acts
like he's just getting started.
In some ways, Bennett is just getting started. After he and his
four-member jazz band delighted the crowd with the hits I Left
My Heart In San Francisco and I Wanna Be Around and robust tunes
from the American Songbook including The Best Is Yet To Come,
All Of Me and Steppin' Out With My Baby, the singer introduced
a new number - well, sort of.
Bennett told the crowd he had, at last, written his very first
song. After all these years of interpreting the works of Gershwin
brothers, Cole Porter and his pal Duke Ellington, Bennett felt
inspired to write lyrics to All For Me, a Django Reinhardt melody
he had long admired.
My world is so alive
My dreams come true,
Bennett sang, his words slipping out in soft hushes as his band
played Reinhardt's lusty number.
You're the spirit that I need
It's all for you, Bennett crooned, closing his eyes and clutching
his hand in front of him.
Every moment that I live
my whole life through
I will look into your eyes
I will live for you
The sentiment and the passion with which Bennett delivered it
prompted many grey-haired couples in the crowd to lean their heads
together in the dark. It also inspired some of us, our hair nowhere
near grey, to remember the time is now to feel alive.
Gina Vivinetto can be reached at 727 893-8565 or gina@sptimes.com