Just got back from Sinatra Night at Carnegie Hall -- they did it his way, and they did it with his orchestra. This show was quite a departure from the ones I've seen in the past. It was all-Frank, all-night.
The show began with Elton John, Sting and James Taylor singing 'Well, Did Ya Evah' from "High Society." For the final chorus they were joined by Billy Joel, Don Henley, Tony Bennett, Charles Aznavour, and Sandra Bernhardt.
Everyone was wearing black, except Sandra Bernhardt who was wearing grey. It ranged from Billy Joel in a suit jacket and tie to Sting in full tux. Elton John was wearing a black Versace suit, like those he's been wearing on his tour -- solid black with rhinestone-edged lapels and the Versace-medusa symbol on the back.
Most of the show, the performers just took turns interpreting Sinatra songs. The set list was as follows:
(NOTE: If marked * I'm not sure if this is the actual title, but it's often repeated in the lyric.)
This was a real highlight. One For My Baby is among my favorite Sinatra songs, and of all the performers there, Billy Joel sounds the most like Frank Sinatry. He introduced the song by setting up a scenario of a guy alone in a bar late at night (It's a quarter to three, there's no one in the place but you and me...). Smooth, suave, cool.
Then Trudy Styler came out and gave a brief speech and showed a video on the current Rainforest situation. The main point is that with the loss of rainforests many species of plants and animals are also being lost, and with them potential cures for disease.
This was Elton John's finest moment of the show. During the instrumental bridge he went over, put a veil on Sting and two began to dance.
During the final chorus of the song, Elton John went over, sat on Billy Joel's lap, and gently kissed him on the head. It was too cute.
As he was introducing Sandra Bernhardt to the stage, Elton John referred to her as a fabulous diva and that he had had a lot of experience with divas last week. They really hammed it up, and they actually sounded quite good together. There was some serious flirting going on. Sandra Bernhardt has a far better singing voice than a speaking voice.
The second half began with Sting introducing Ricky Martin. He told of his recent experience at the Grammies where after Ricky Martin's very stimulating performance of his Grammy nominated song, Sting's wife Trudy led the charge of women to the stage.
This was the only real surprise of the evening, and it certainly qualified as the comic high point (if you don't count Elton and Sting dancing in the first half). He did it is his wonderful "lounge-act" style made famous on early episodes of Saturday Night Live.
For a man of his age, it's amazing how he can sustain those long notes -- very impressive.
They all came out wearing Frank Sinatra-style black hats. Overall, it was a very good show. Excellent performances and good choices of songs. But, even though over 20 songs were performed, the show lasted only 90 minutes not including the intermission. Way too short. And, of course not enough Elton John. In past years he's performed more. Billy Joel particularly shined this year. The Sinatra-style really suits him, and he chose the best songs to sing.
Back from New York... Great weekend, OK show. Sting looked hansome and incredibly young. Trudie was ravishingly beautiful.
Tony Bennett stole the show but Sting was marvelous singing "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning".
Got a glimpse of all the stars coming out of the CH and passed Trudie standing in front of her building. Who knows, a few seconds later or earlier and I could have realised a lifelong dream and shook the MAN's hand.
Next year maybe.
I'm beat so I'll have a more complete account of the show later.
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