Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I love easy jazz. I love the great songs from years ago. I love tremendously talented musicians who don't see a need to play at 120 plus decibels to "make music". I love "professionals" like Tony Bennett and the late Frank Sinatra who knew how to adjust with age and sing within their diminished vocal range, allowing their voices to age like fine wine in oaken kegs...
So here you have Tony Bennett, now about 76, singing to a packed ballroom at the Fairmont Hotel (I've visited this hotel) on Nob Hill in downtown San Francisco. Backing him is the great Clayton Cameron on drums and Lee Musiker on the 9 foot Yamaha grand piano. Paul Langosch does a great job on bass, and Gray Sargent an adequate job on guitar. (I say adequate, because if you've seen Anthony Wilson play guitar with Diana Krall's band on "Live in Paris", Gray's comping chords and solo runs begin to pale in comparison).
My pet peeves? The sound mix is a bit thin at times, and occasionally Tony's voice drops out. My other pet peeve is his duets with K. D. Lang--she shows up barefoot dressed in pants and looking a bit sloppy--at the ritzy FAIRMONT BALLROOM??? The Bonus material is also weak, consisting mainly of still shots of Tony's paintings.
But the biggest selling point of this DVD is a live concert on DVD, so that you can enjoy great sound on your home theatre system.
And a good time was had by all. There is "nothing" objectionable in the way of language, so even your grandkids can watch this show. Tony sings mostly favorites from the 60's in traditional orchestral mixes. Only on two or three occasions do the fireworks fly between drummer Clayton, guitarist Gray, bassist Paul and pianist Lee Musicker. This isn't meant as criticism--it's just that the concert mostly stays in the "mellow" range. Cause Lee, Paul, Gray and certainly Clayton Cameron can light some fire given some free reign to do so.
My favorites are his multi song duet tribute with KD Lang to Louis Armstrong, including "La Vie En Rose, and "What a a Wonderful World", plus songs like "I Left My Heart in San Francisco", "How Do You Keep the Music Playing", "When Joanna Loved Me", "I Got Rhythm", "The Best is Yet to Come", and "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing".
I bought this DVD on three criteria: (1) figuring a recently released/recorded DVD might guarantee latest quality DVD sound and video, and (2) the avid recommendations of Amazonians. I can say I was certainly not disappointed with this DVD, but it didn't exceed my expectations either. To have been five stars, it should have had a couple more bonus items, a bit better sound mix, allowing the musicians a couple more goes at letting their energy/talent fly, and getting KD to dress up (and shoe up) at least on the level of Tony's elegantly tailored suit.
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