iTunes Festival 2014: Tony Bennett at Roundhouse

A headline act at this year’s iTunes festival, the crowd applauded wildly as famous show tunes singer Tony Bennett walked out on stage to a recorded introduction from Frank Sinatra, dressed to the nines and smiling from ear to ear.

At 88 years of age Tony Bennett belongs to a generation who might think an Apple Mac is a new kind of hamburger; however last night he proved himself to be still miraculously at the top of his game. With a twinkle in his eye and a few stage moves still up his sleeve, he delivered a triumphant set against an ever-changing backdrop of his paintings of New York City.

His voice sounded as smooth and rich as ever as he delivered lines with his signature casual and conversational manner. Performed live, the songs vividly evoked the spirit of a bygone era, telling smoky sepia-tinted tales that transported the audience to another place and time. Most of his hits were covered, highlights including I Left My Heart in San Francisco, Smile, Fly Me to the Moon and The Way You Look Tonight. Bennett was on top form, blowing kisses to the audience and performing 360 spins to raucous applause and cheers.

Bennett was accompanied by a full band, including the acclaimed drummer Harold Jones, whose jazz rhythms along with the other musicians provided a perfect backing to the singer’s voice. Roundhouse was the ideal venue for a show of this calibre as it is just about small enough to feel intimate, and the elegant lighting and backdrops lifted the atmosphere to impressive heights – it would have been hard to leave the venue without feeling moved in some way. 

Bennett is still a crowd-pleaser – as much as the audience adore him, Bennett seems to love them back.

Steve Mallon
Photos: Guifré de Peray

For further information about Tony Bennett and future events visit here.