THAT "OLD GUY"

Tonight while I was supposed to be (according to my self-discipline) organizing a new incorporation, I got distracted by a program on PBS. It featured a new album by an old guy who over my lifetime I had always considered to be of a self-serving pretense and a deservedly isolated and unappreciated singer. That was my opinion and faithful readers of The English Bay Banner will know only too painfully that I am not of a light touch in expressing them. Well, today I was given a wake-up call by this old guy who carried his own in spectacular fashion with the likes of Josh Groban, Lady Gaga (who gushed all over him with her blue hair but managed to keep up with Mr Bennett's precise and delicious pausing), Sheryl Crow, Andrea Bocelli, Mariah Carey, K. D. Lang, Natalie Cole and a couple of other oldies like Aretha Franklin and Willie Nelson whose face has come to resemble a river of blues with an appropriate accompanying voice as raspy (but still note on) as a tired oak creaking in the wind. I wept at their interaction on this new release entltied Duets Two with Tony Bennett. Even Michael Buble (of whom I'm still suspect) was so enthralled that he quite spontaneously waltzed with Mr Bennett between a pause in their song, allowing Mr Bennett to lead. Every singer showcased on this CD/DVD which PBS was clearly hugely proud about broadcasting were immensely impressed with the 85 year old energy and class that Mr Bennett so easily exuded as he and his guest singer dished out some crooner and jazz classics.



I couldn't help but to feel some shame in my previous take on Mr Bennett; but also it was notable that he had never sounded so clear, powerful and thrilled himself by being in the face-to-face company of these fellow singing artists - and he had the decency of visiting them in their homes or studios around the world to put this Duets Two project into progress.

Hearing from too many of today's callous youth who mention in their dark whispers about "that old guy" referring to anyone over 40, I am grateful now to know that Mr Bennett has so easily and with such evident eloquence, shown that those kinds of vicious words of ageism don't belong anywhere any more and that, at least in my "old guy" view, the words of these mouthy, biased brats will find dark tunnels to rot in while the lyrics and the voices of these great singers of ageless lyrics and the example of Mr Bennett will outshine them like stars bursting over sewage ditches.



I recall vividly attending a performance of Mr Frank Sinatra at the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto when he was well into his '70's. Down the ramp he came, shorter in stature than I expected, and carrying two glasses, one in each hand. He opened the thrilling show with, "I want you to meet two friends of mine (and he held out his hands), Chivas and Regal." From there he entertained flawlessly singing and telling the most interesting stories, while his son conducted the orchestra below him. Now how cool is that?

Can't wait to hear Mr Bennett's Duets One.