Matt Monro Forum

BBC ONE SESSIONS-TONY BENNETT IN CONCERT
With his Quartet:-
Bruce Barth-piano
Paul Langosch-bass
Gray Sargent-guitar
Harold Jones-drums

11pm Sunday 8th July 2007(recorded 9May'007)
from LSO St.Luke's,London

A REMINDER..Don't Forget TONY BENNETT tonight 11'OCLOCK. BBC1

Thanks for that reminder Harry and Lena--I had not realised it was on TV-I just thought it was the radio. All is set now for taping it.

I'm not a huge Tony Bennett fan but watched the concert on TV last night. Not a bad performance but croaky in parts. And he seemed to talk his way through some of the songs. But I liked his obvious enthusiasm.

Tony recorded this TV Show at the end of a UK Tour in April/May plus two charity shows-very gruelling and he looked weary.(Show was recorded 9th May). The Quartet lacked their usual 'sparkle' and the BBC editing was awful-Tony almost always closes his concerts with 'HOW DO YOU KEEP THE MUSIC PLAYING?'.
The audience was full of BBC 'cronies'who were there for the free ride unlike all Tony's fans who paid to see him at the various UK venues,not given the opportunity to see the LSO ST.LUKE'S recording.
However,I liked his new suit with the snazzy pale blue lining.
Now the concert(s)the BBC should have recorded,either visually or audio-wise,was(were)the concerts at The Royal Albert Hall at the start of his Tour-they were superb.

Was sorry I missed it, but on reading Mark's report, maybe not quite so sorry after all!
Marian

Mark

I thought I was being a bit risque in my comments, but you seem to agree with me. I especially concur with your thoughts on the audience, who looked like they had been paid to turn up. For some reason I just thought they didn't look like they would be Tony Bennett fans (with the possible exception of Jamie Callum).

We agree that Tony made a few duff notes, but as Mark said he had finished a gruelling tour. Also before leaving the States he had just recovered from a bad cold.
It stood out a mile that the audience were there as a privilege. They were so hesitant with their applause, not even knowing at which moment it was the norm to respond to Tony's songs. He was aware of it too.
A pretty good performance none the less.

jon wrote:Mark

I thought I was being a bit risque in my comments, but you seem to agree with me. I especially concur with your thoughts on the audience, who looked like they had been paid to turn up. For some reason I just thought they didn't look like they would be Tony Bennett fans (with the possible exception of Jamie Callum).

Jamie Cullum isn't a Tony Bennett fan-he's an opportunist!There for a photo and a publicity mention(if he's lucky).June Sarpong and Michael Eavis were there too-the expression is 'freeloaders',unlike the fans who pay to see their musical hero.
The Quartet seemed very lacklustre as if they'd never performed with TB before(which definitely isn't the case).I hope Tony gave Jamie Cullum the name of his tailor!

And maybe his hair stylist too - Jamie always looks like he needs a haircut - isn't that right L&H?!

Let's not hope too much-a decent suit would be a start-perhaps a hairdresser already tried.
I met JC on two occasions-I think the term 'oiky'sums him up!
His demeanor off stage left a lot to be desired-didn't impress me-I've got shoes older than him!

To be honest when we first saw J C seated at the concert we thought it was Pete Doherty. What a double act they'd make. Eat your heart out Judy Garland and Fred Astaire. A re-make of Easter Parade with "We're A Couple Of Swells" ( yes, that's what we were thinking)

Flicking through the channels the other day, I picked up the Tony Bennett performance you mentioned, and like you say it was staged managed, but it was showing on the BBC HD channel, and believe me, the pictures were awesome, and oh, that suit!

Yes Edgar, Tony always impeccably attired and seems to have bygoned
the bow tie for the standard tie, (well the last couple of times we've seen him he has) , and the code of dress has always been paramount with artistes such as Tony. It shows respect for the audience doesn't it.

Yes it does. Tony is a superb artisite and like wine, gets better as he grows older! Isn't it a pity that standards of dress generally have fallen, I always fell sorry for David Beckham. Poor man, can't he aford a decent pair of trousers that don't sag everywhere! and with no holes!