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In Jakarta, the legendary Tony Bennett moves an audience
At work: The legendary 87-year-old crooner delighted audiences at the Ritz Carlton in Jakarta with a set that included 23 numbers
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At work: The legendary 87-year-old crooner delighted audiences at the Ritz Carlton in Jakarta with a set that included 23 numbers. (JP/Jerry Adiguna)" border="0" height="341" width="512">At work: The legendary 87-year-old crooner delighted audiences at the Ritz Carlton in Jakarta with a set that included 23 numbers. (JP/Jerry Adiguna)Frank Sinatra had swagger. Dean Martin was the clown. But of the great American crooners, Tony Bennett, still on the road at 87, is unique: the gentleman performer.
Speaking to reporters in Tokyo in early September, Bennett said his inspiration was Hokusai, the Japanese artist who, when in his 80s, longed to keep working to become a ârealâ painter. âItâs unfortunate that some people canât stand their work and they retire and they donât do anything, Bennett said as reported by The Wall Street Journal. âTo me, they shorten their life.â
After more than 70 albums and 17 Grammy awards, Bennett has shown few signs of slowing down. At least that was the consensus after a performance at the Grand Ballroom of Ritz-Carlton Jakarta Hotel in Mega Kuningan, South Jakarta, on Friday.
Bennettâs daughter Antonia opened the show, looking gorgeous in heels and a blue sleeveless top and flared slacks. The aspiring jazz singer, who has accompanied Bennett on his latest Asia tour, closed her six-number opening set with âFrom This Moment Onâ.
Then the stage lights dimmed and the headliner was introduced by none other than the Chairman of the Board.
âTonyâs going to come out now and heâs going to tear the seats out of the place for you. Heâs my man, this cat,â a recording of Frank Sinatra piped into the ballroom said. âIf I had a drink Iâd say it again: Heâs the greatest singer in the world. Mr. Tony Bennett!â
To applause and cheers of the several hundred people in the house, the crooner emerged, looking dapper in black suit and tie with red pocket handkerchief. Clasping both hands around the microphone, Bennett immediately launched into Michael Legrandeâs âWatch What Happensâ.
span class="inline inline-none">At work: The legendary 87-year-old crooner delighted audiences at the Ritz Carlton in Jakarta with a set that included 23 numbers. (JP/Jerry Adiguna) Frank Sinatra had swagger. Dean Martin was the clown. But of the great American crooners, Tony Bennett, still on the road at 87, is unique: the gentleman performer.
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Speaking to reporters in Tokyo in early September, Bennett said his inspiration was Hokusai, the Japanese artist who, when in his 80s, longed to keep working to become a 'real' painter. 'It's unfortunate that some people can't stand their work and they retire and they don't do anything, Bennett said as reported by The Wall Street Journal. 'To me, they shorten their life.'
After more than 70 albums and 17 Grammy awards, Bennett has shown few signs of slowing down. At least that was the consensus after a performance at the Grand Ballroom of Ritz-Carlton Jakarta Hotel in Mega Kuningan, South Jakarta, on Friday.
Bennett's daughter Antonia opened the show, looking gorgeous in heels and a blue sleeveless top and flared slacks. The aspiring jazz singer, who has accompanied Bennett on his latest Asia tour, closed her six-number opening set with 'From This Moment On'.
Then the stage lights dimmed and the headliner was introduced by none other than the Chairman of the Board.
'Tony's going to come out now and he's going to tear the seats out of the place for you. He's my man, this cat,' a recording of Frank Sinatra piped into the ballroom said. 'If I had a drink I'd say it again: He's the greatest singer in the world. Mr. Tony Bennett!'
To applause and cheers of the several hundred people in the house, the crooner emerged, looking dapper in black suit and tie with red pocket handkerchief. Clasping both hands around the microphone, Bennett immediately launched into Michael Legrande's 'Watch What Happens'.
And the crowd cheered again.
Next was an energetic 'They All Laughed', and, to the delight of the audience, Bennett spun around on the stage as he sang the lyrics of George Gershwin. His voice was melodic and strong, although sometimes Bennett needed a moment to reach his most powerful notes.
However, the mood shifted when the spotlight shone on pianist Lee Musiker and Bennett sang 'Maybe This Time'. This arrangement was slower and more emotional, especially when Marshall Wood joined on bass. Bennett, holding back from the expected high notes throughout the song, punched out a perfect ' and powerful ' finish, his hands reaching out to the audience.
And the crowd, surprised at Bennett's previous restraint, cheered again ' this time not with the enthusiasm of seeing an idol, but the knowledge that they were watching a master at work.
For the rest of the evening ' 23 numbers were on the set list ' Bennett changed tempo with spirit.
At times, the arrangements were energetic, such as Bennett's rendition of 'I Got Rhythm', with the singer giving nods to Gray Sargent on electric guitar and later to Harold Jones, who Bennett said was 'Count Basie's favorite drummer', on percussion.
At times, the arrangements were slower and poignant, as when Bennett sang 'Just the Way You Look Tonight' or when he turned to the first song he ever recorded, 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams.'
The spotlight focused only on Bennett as he again clasped the microphone with both hands to sing the 'The Good Life', which he dedicated to his friend Lady Gaga. The pair covered 'The Lady Is a Tramp' and is slated to release an album together later this year.
When Bennett next sang 'For Once in My Life', he looked into the crowd and shared a deep smile with the audience and then launched into knock-your-socks off renditions of 'That Old Black Magic' and, to the delight of all in the house, 'San Francisco'.
The house was excited at the performers, with Musiker rising out of his stool during his energetic solo. The audience expected that Bennett's signature number would end the evening, but then the crooner asked: 'Can we go on?'
'Who Cares' was followed by 'When You're Smiling' and then Bennett started 'Fly Me to the Moon'. The speakers cut out and some wondered if there was a problem with the sound system. But no: Bennett was following his long-standing tradition of singing one song at every show without amplification.
As the legend's voice filled the ballroom back to the cheap seats, there was a sense of the numinous in the audience.
This man from Astoria, Queens; who fought in infantry in the Second World War; who marched in the American Civil Rights Movement and who has cultivated his gift for longer than most in the crowd have been alive, had captivated us, filling the house with his song.
Then, without an encore, it was over. Bennett left the stage as the audience rose from its seats for an ovation.
The nation's most prominent orchestral conductor Addie MS, came to see the legend that night, as
did his wife, singer Meidyana Maimunah, known as Memes. Speaking to reporters after the show, Addie had praise for Bennett's band. 'Outstanding. Sometimes musicians want to show off. However, in this show, they played from their heart. They didn't need to show off. Their music was very smooth [halus]'.
'It was a very nuanced performance,' Addie said. 'He can still spin around ' three times! Excellent control, excellent body language. And the tone of his voice was outstanding.'
He continued. 'These were songs that we had all heard thousands of times, but Bennett had made them his own on Friday. These songs are already popular, but he made them his own with improvisation.'
Also in the house was Arian Arifin, the lead singer of local heavy metal band Seringai, standing out from the cocktail dress/jacket-over-crisp jeans crowd, wearing his trademark backwards baseball cap and black leather biker jacket. 'My passion is definitely metal, but I love to listen to all types of music. When he sings, it looks so easy,' Arian said. 'Like he's telling a story, like he is just talking.'
Arian was effusive. 'My father raised me on these kinds of songs. I love Tony Bennett.'
Arian is not alone. Salud, Mr. Bennett.
JP/Jerry Adiguna
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