Proving age is only a number, 90-year-old Tony Bennett delivered a wallop of a performance Tuesday night at Sugar Land’s Smart Financial Centre. The legendary entertainer took to the stage with vigor, commanding the spotlight and earning several well-deserved standing ovations during the show. For anyone wondering, the seemingly ageless crooner has still got it, and then some.
Accompanied by a quartet of a piano, drums, guitar and double bass, Bennett didn’t miss a beat during his nearly 90-minute set as he unleashed his smooth voice and soft-shoe dance moves on the fully-engrossed and fully-charmed audience.
The title of the first song of the night, “Watch What Happens,” was apropos of what was to come. Bennett thrilled the crowd by ending the song with a dramatic long note, proving that his voice still packs a punch.
Bennett moved straight into his set with “They All Laughed,” “This Is All I Ask,” “I Got Rhythm,” and Duke Ellington’s “(In My) Solitude.”
One of the few pauses of the night, before launching into “The Good Life,” Bennett joked with concertgoers, “I sang this song with Lady Gaga. I want you to buy the record because she needs the money.”
Later in the set, Bennett briefly paused again as he introduced his pianist, Sugar Land native Billy Stritch, and dedicated “All the Things You Are” to Stritch’s mother, who was in attendance. In a laughable moment, Bennett stopped singing during the line, “All that I want in all this world….” and turned to Stritch saying, “remember now, this is for your mother,” before turning back to the audience and finishing the lyric, “....is you.”
While Bennett performed his signature song, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” along with other popular hits including “Love is Here to Stay” and "The Way You Look Tonight," it was his lesser-known ballads that really captured the audience. He was heartfelt as he delivered "But Beautiful" and "Boulevard of Broken Dreams."
Bennett’s finale of “Fly Me to the Moon” may have been the most memorable moment of the night. He sang the song sans microphone, with only a guitar as accompaniment. And it was a performance for the ages.
Set list:
Watch What Happens
They All Laughed
This Is All I Ask
I Got Rhythm
(In My) Solitude
Sing You Sinners
Love is Here to Stay
Steppin' Out With My Baby
It Amazes Me
But Beautiful
The Way You Look Tonight
Because of You / Cold Cold Heart / Rags to Riches / Who Can I Turn To?
Just in Time
Boulevard of Broken Dreams
The Good Life
How Do You Keep the Music Playing?
The Shadow of Your Smile
One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)
For Once in My Life
Old Fashioned
All the Things You Are
I Left My Heart in San Francisco
Who Cares?
Smile
Fly Me to the Moon
Before launching into “The Good Life,” Bennett joked with concertgoers, “I sang this song with Lady Gaga. I want you buy the record because she needs the money.”
