BWW Reviews: Sensational Frankie Valli Earns Resounding Applause in Providence Performance

It all began with a handshake. In the early 1960s, Four Seasons' front man Frankie Valli and pianist/song writer Bob Gaudio made a gentlemen's agreement to split royalties from their musical endeavors, both inside and outside the band. Their partnership stands strong five decades on, and that handshake is the stuff of music industry legend.

Mr. Valli himself is a living legend. Superlatives are too often overused or misapplied, but not in Valli's case. His résumé speaks for itself - over 175 million records sold worldwide, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a career spanning more than half a century, a hit Broadway musical in the biographic Jersey Boys, acclaim for multiple acting roles - and even a cursory glance at the Four Seasons' multi-generational audience proves the strength of his enduring appeal.

Valli not only brings audience members to their feet, he gets them singing along and dancing in the aisles. From silver-haired ladies with canes, to teens hearing the Four Seasons' music played live for the first time, to younger children perched on their parents' knees, fans of every age enthusiastically pack the house and approach the stage to shake Valli's hand.

And Valli has never sounded better. His distinctive falsetto soars in hit numbers "Dawn," "Walk Like a Man," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Stay," and "Silence is Golden," to name only a few. In addition to his own chart-topping songs, Valli performs several warmly-received cover selections from his newest album, "Romancing the '60s," including "Let it be Me," "Spanish Harlem," and a medley of "Groovin'" and "My Girl."

Valli is a gracious and genial host, expressing sincere gratitude for his fans' support and joking easily with the audience. He makes a few self-depreciating cracks about his age - he pretended to hyperventilate after singing "Beggin'" and quipped, "Is it intermission yet?" - but with the still-golden quality of his voice and his unflagging, dynamic performance, it's hard to believe Valli will celebrate his 81st birthday next month.

Simply put, Valli still defines cool. His music - beautifully written and arranged with sophisticated melodies and resonate lyrics - appeals across generations. The opening notes to songs like "My Eyes Adored You," "Opus 17 (Don't You Worry 'Bout Me)," "Grease," and "Who Loves You" brought roars of approval from the Providence audience, and "December '63 (Oh What a Night)" was only one of many tunes to earn a standing ovation. It is a testament to Valli's talent and phenomenal appeal that concertgoers of all ages sing along to "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," "Rag Doll," and "Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby, Goodbye)" without missing a lyric. Each song - eloquent, timeless, and toe-tapping - makes up part of the soundtrack of the audiences' lives.

For all this acclaim, Valli appears both humble and thankful on stage. He accepts applause graciously and is quick to share the spotlight with his backup singers (Brandon Brigham, Brian Brigham, Todd Fournier, and Brad Sharp provide gorgeous harmonies) and musicians. The songs' arrangements sound rich and full with a six-piece horn section led by saxophonist Rick Keller, an outstanding guitar performance by Yarone Levy, and the excellent skills of drummer Gary Mallaber, percussionist Memo Acevedo, and bass player Steve Wilkinson. The band has some wonderful stand-out moments, from their instrumental interlude in "Swearin' to God" to their tribute to Sinatra in "I've Got You Under My Skin." Robby Robinson, the Four Seasons' musical director and keyboardist, has worked with Valli for 36 years, and their friendship and mutual respect is evident.

For the sheer quality of performance, the depth of the talent on stage, and the continuing impact of the man and his music, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons are not to be missed.

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Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons played the Providence Performing Arts Center for one night only, Sunday, April 19, 2015. For information about Mr. Valli's upcoming tour stops and recent CD releases, please visit www.FrankieValliFourSeasons.com.

Photo Courtesy Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons

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