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Review: Bennett Serves Winning Set In Clearwater
News Channel 8 photo by JOHN WINTERROWD
Tony Bennett was competing with the Rays for attention Thursday night, but to music fans he pitched a shutout.
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Published: October 16, 2008
CLEARWATER - Gershwin and Ellington got a little competition from Upton and Longoria during Tony Bennett's opening night set at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday on Thursday.
The capacity crowd of 15,000 ate up Bennett's set of songs from what he calls "The Great American Songbook." But there were plenty of peeks at PDAs and whispers about the Tampa Bay Rays-Boston Red Sox playoff game going on at the same time.
But what a way to spend a balmy evening — under the stars in Coachman Park with not one but two American institutions, one live and one via satellite.
Bennett, 82, simply defies age. The power he exhibited singing "Maybe This Time" would have done a man half his age proud. And he showed a mastery of swing that matched even that of Harold Jones, the Count Basie drummer who anchored Bennett's backing quartet.
If "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" was the sentimental favorite of the evening's performance, the musical highlight was, arguably, a couple of Duke Ellington numbers paired toward the end of the set.
"In a Mellow Tone" was a prime example of Bennett's musicianship, his phrasing both flawless and seemingly off-the-cuff. It set up a double-time, show-stopping "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)," which Bennett absolutely commanded before ceding the spotlight to Jones and his other musicians, guitarist Gray Sargent, pianist Lee Musiker and bassist Jim Hughart, all excellent.
Bassist Kyle Eastwood — yes, the son of the High Plains Drifter — performed before Bennett. Backed by sax, trumpet, keyboards and drums, Eastwood struck a pleasing mix between fusion, pop and straight-ahead jazz.
Bay area talent B.K. Jackson opened the festival. The smooth jazz saxophonist brought youthful enthusiasm to a spirited set that included a take on Stevie Wonder's "I Wish."
Reporter Curtis Ross can be reached at (813) 259-7568.
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