Playin With My Friends by Tony Bennett & Friends

18 Jun

Written by Mike Jurkovic
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It doesn’t get much smoother ‘n cooler than this kids. Backed by the venerable Ralph Sharon Quartet (Sharon-piano, Clayton Cameron-drums, Paul Langosch-bass, and Gray Sargent-guitar) Bennett assembles some friends and, as he has for half a century, stands tallest among them.

Unlike fellow septuagenarian Willie Nelson’s all-too-predictable superstar blues collaboration (2K’s ‘Milk Cow Blues’) Bennett keeps the proceedings groovin’ effortlessly like a warm summer wind. Duets with Diana Krall, ‘Alright, Okay, You Win’, Sheryl Crow, ‘Good Morning, Heartache’, Bonnie Raitt, ‘I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues’, B.B. King, ‘Let the Good Times Roll’, kindred spirit kd lang ‘Keep The Faith, Baby’, and Natalie Cole, ‘Stormy Weather’ are the immediate aces in this loaded deck. Stevie Wonder’s harmonica on ‘(Everyday) I Have The Blues’ is a glorious sound.

Other friends include Billy Joel, Ray Charles, and Kay Starr but it’s Tony’s show from start to finish. ‘Old Count Basie Is Gone’ and ‘Don’t Cry baby’ are solo highlights. If ever a recording gave you your money’s worth with some serious interest, this is the baby, baby.