Tony Bennett

A A A Comments By Chris Gray Wednesday, Aug 22 2007

Courtesy of Columbia Records

Tony Bennett: Said to like things that are great.

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Tony Bennett performs Tuesday, August 28, at Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana, 713-227-3974.

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Tony Bennett's current tour is sponsored by AARP, about the only time the crooner's name should ever be invoked anywhere near the word "retired." Consider his past 12 months: Last August, Robert De Niro, Bruce Willis, Katie Couric, Harry Belafonte, Donald Trump and Alec Baldwin, among others, gathered in Manhattan to wish the former Anthony Benedetto a happy 80th birthday, an evening that ended with musical spouses Elvis Costello and Diana Krall duetting on "They Can't Take That Away From Me." Three months later, Bennett not only upstaged Baldwin's affectionately hilarious impersonation during the 30 Rock star's most recent SNL gig but joined musical guest Christina Aguilera for a saucy "Steppin' Out With My Baby." In February, his latest album, Duets: An American Classic — wherein Bennett welcomes the Dixie Chicks, Bono, Sting, Barbra Streisand, Tim McGraw and Elton John — took home Grammys for Traditional Pop Album and Pop Collaboration with Vocals (for Stevie Wonder duet "For Once in My Life"). Now he's on tour, reminding audiences why, since Frank Sinatra went to that big casino in the sky, Frank's paisan Tony is now the reigning steward of American popular song. — Chris Gray