Tony Bennett Duets With Daughter Antonia at Montreal Jazz Fest
Tony Bennett has gone through various phases in his career. That's not surprising considering the 85-year-old has been singing since the swing era. He was a young star, a pop singer trying to grow beyond silly pop repertoire, a master storyteller of song, the comeback act who played for the kids on MTV. Now, Tony Bennett is simply a legend. These days he spends more time painting than he does performing, so a chance to catch him live is not to be missed.
Bennett and his band played Friday, July 1, at the Montreal Jazz Festival. While his career has been perceived in different ways over the years, Bennett himself has changed very little. He's a classic pop singer who projects emotion. He's also an entertainer who connects with his audience with a likeable personality that balances his humble working class roots in Queens with the sophisticated persona of a romantic who left his heart in San Francisco.
The night opened with a few tunes sung by his 30-something, auburn-haired daughter Antonia Bennett. This is a classic showbiz move, leaving the band to be led by a secondary figure for the open songs of the performance. Antonia didn't embarrass her father, singing 'Too Marvelous for Words' and few other standards, but it's a tough gig opening for Tony, and the crowd was polite but not particularly supportive. Her father, on the other hand, got a standing ovation when he walked on stage. Acknowledging the crowd, Bennett waved, gave the thumbs up, and told them, "Thanks for stopping by."
The 75-minute set opened with the Bennett original 'Someone Who Cares' and from there went through the pages of the great American songbook. Highlights included a lighthearted 'I Got Rhythm' with a great little scat closing from the singer. Other Bennett classics
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