Tony Bennett

The labelling of legends has become overly familiar, but in the case of Tony Bennett, it would be difficult to successfully argue it as hyperbole. A veteran of World War 2, his first album was released in 1952 and paved the way to multiple Grammy and Emmy awards, while continuing to release new records. Perhaps the biggest artistic tribute he could have comes by way of his recorded stage introduction: a declaration by none other than Frank Sinatra that Bennett is the best singer in the world.

A standing ovation welcomes Bennett on stage for the last night of this UK tour, an indication of how he is held in the highest regard by his fans, who need not hear a note to lavish him with praise. With a catalogue consisting of over 50 studio albums, putting together a setlist could be an arduous task, yet every selection is greeted by whoops of delight. Rarely breaking the rhythm of performance, early highlights include 'They All Laughed', 'I Got Rhythm' and 'This Is All I Ask', which raises a chuckle as he knowingly glances through the opening lyric of "As I approach the prime of my life". For of course he is a month away from turning 91 and whilst it is no longer as powerful as it once was, he provides the type of vocal performance that would shame many who are half or a third of his years.

As important to the quality of the show is his quartet band, which is regularly given moments to shine with impressive solos that Bennett obviously admires. Yes, these are also a necessity to give the star attraction a break to rest his voice, but the jazz skills they display are impossible not to admire, even if you're not an immediate fan of the genre. On a rare occasion when Bennett talks to his crowd, he delivers a message that they were all hoping for: he does not want to retire. Watching him shuffle on stage with a grin that rarely subsides, this is clearly a man who appreciates and enjoys his line of work. His finale is now well known, but by no means any less impressive: he discards his microphone and engulfs the hall with nothing more than the sheer power of his voice on 'Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)'.  It is a genuinely hair-raising moment from an icon that anyone in the industry could learn from.

One of the biggest trends in music today is that new rhythms, beats and backing vocals are sounding more and more like the old ones. Vintage and retro have defined some of the big hits of the last few years, from Pharrell's 'Get Lucky' and 'Happy' to Meaghan Trainor's 'All About That Bass'. Most of these sounds only call back to the 1970s and maybe the 50s and 60s for their funk and their groove, and for some people that's just not enough. So leave it to Lady GaGa, never one to go halfway on anything, to team up with good old-fashioned showman Tony Bennett to deliver us all the way back to the Roaring 20s and the era of swing with their collaboration album titled 'Cheek To Cheek'.

If you've come into this album thinking that this will be a blend of Lady Gaga's pioneering pop methods and Tony Bennett's timeless style, I regret to inform you that it has missed the opportunity to feature Tony Bennett's cover of 'Bad Romance'. 'Cheek To Cheek' plays it straight, with Lady Gaga ditching her usual brand in favor of a 20s crooner. This is all Bennett's wheelhouse, and she really fits right in. Lady Gaga fits effortlessly into the role of the saucy dame, best seen in 'Goody Goody' where she cops her native New York accent to complain that she is no "goody goody", adopting a sly attitude as Bennett tries to romance her in all the wrong (yet right) ways.

Bennett and Gaga are both at their best in the call-and-reply songs, employing fitting referential metaphors in 'They All Laughed', convincingly affectionate back-and-forth in 'Cheek To Cheek' and, what must be one of the most comical lines, fitting the words "silly gigolos" into the album opener 'Anything Goes'. Gaga and Bennett also deliver two solos each, although Bennett's 'Sophisticated Lady' and Gaga's 'Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye' and 'Lush Life' sound a bit too similar as slow-paced piano ballads in comparison to Bennett's string-dominated 'Don't Wait Too Long'. Other songs pack more instrumental flair, with the manic energy of 'Firefly' and the jazzy overtones of 'I Can't Give You Anything' conjuring images of smoke-filled old boys clubs. And, of course, the duo's rendition of 'It Don't Mean a Thing' closes the album with a bang.

Continue reading: Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga - Cheek To Cheek Album Review