I guess I’ve seen it all now. More than two thousand people gathered in New York last night for a love fest. The object of their affection was Tony Bennett. The amazing singer turned 90 and his friends and fans came to celebrate. Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, Lady Gaga, Diana Krall, Wynton Marsalis, Elton John..you get the picture. Lady Gaga brought down the house with her rendition of The Lady is A Tramp.
Mr. Bennett took the stage for three solos late in the evening. He sang I Left My Hesrt in San Francisco and two others. If one thought his skills had diminished with age, guess again. The unmatched and nuanced phrasing, the range, and his ability to hold an audience in his hand is as strong as thirty years ago. Fifty years ago, I used to think my father knew nothing when he listened to the old crooners. One almost felt sorry for the seventy something Bob Dylan last night…his skills having eroded with time.
But Tony Bennett…no way. Let me give you a comparison. The last song and the final note were so strong, it was like watching Michael Jordan (when he’s 75) leap from the free throw line to throw down a buzzer beater dunk. In the words of LA Dodger announcer Jack Buck, ‘I don’t believe what I just saw!’
Incredible!
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