An Evening With Tony Bennett at Radio City Music Hall

Last night, my Dad and I went to Radio City Music Hall to see Tony Bennett perform in concert. It was an early birthday present for my Dad who celebrates his 78th birthday today.

Neither of us had ever been to Radio City Music Hall. It is a grand tribute to Art Deco. Just being in the building is a grand experience.

The audience was warmed up by the Tony Bennett Quartet and his daughter Antonia who sang several songs such as "Bye Bye Blackbird" and "Someone To Watch Over Me". She was a serviceable opening act although her voice is better suited for pop rock than jazz standards.

Her Dad is quite something else. Tony Bennett is twice is old as I am and just might have twice the energy. Although he has been singing the same tunes for sixty years, he sings them with the same passion sixty years later. Before he came on stage, there was an audio recording of Frank Sinatra calling Bennett the best singer in the world. Blue Eyes description was apt 60 years ago, it is apt today. Bennett retains a remarkable ability to emote, hold and phrase lyrics and notes whether it's "This Is All I Ask", "Steppin' Out With My Baby" (which introduced him to the MTV generation a generation ago), "How Do You Keep The Music Playing?", "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" and "Fly Me to the Moon".

I have seen several acts of Bennett's vintage perform (i.e. Dave Brubeck and Toots Thielemann). They had to be helped to the stage due to their advanced age. The same cannot be said of Bennett who not only walked unassisted, but walked around stage to various members of the band throughout the night. He sang about two dozen songs one right after the other without taking a break. At the end of the show, he walked on and off the stage about half a dozen times teasing the audience with an encore. Let's just say his level of energy is atypical for a 92 year old man. But it's easy to see and hear why. He loves what he does and why should he stop what he loves to do? How else can you explain someone who can keep pace with Lady Gaga?

Tony Bennett has resonated with live audiences for generations. It would come as no surprise to me if in 20 years from now he will be alive, well and continue to resonate with a new generation of an audience at the ripe old age of 112. One can only hope.