Chanteur Bobby Bennett Scores @ Sterling's
On Sunday evening April 25 Bobby Bennett brought his inimitable sounds of A Night of Love to Sterling's Upstairs @ Vitello's. This was his cabaret debut here, although he competed in this past season's LA's Next Great Stage Star 2010. A former finalist on American Idol, Bobby Bennett is so vocally smooth and possesses an easy listening style that makes him the perfect pop recording artist. He infuses his audience, in his very own special way, with a desire to really listen to his music. So, I am naming him the Michael Feinstein of the coming decade.
Bennett kept his Night of Love about relationships on course through song and provided little banter in between. But when he did, it was with a boyish glow and warmhearted humor about his family in Colorado and his varied theatrical tastes. Superb musicianship was enjoyed throughout from musical director James Lent. Highlights included: the giddiness of falling head over heels with "Hold Me, Thrill Me" to the ultimate certainty of Michel LeGrand's "What Are You Doing?', a stunning "Something's Coming" from West Side Story, a delightful Burt Bacharach medley to conincide with the opening on Broadway of the revival of Promises, Promises: "Look of Love", "Alfie" (his favorite since 8 years of age), "Walk On By" and the beautiful "A House Is Not a Home", which as Bennett pointed out symbolizes to perfection the 'I miss you!' that people find so hard to say to one another. This tune, by the way, was just added to the score of the new Promises, Promises. Also on tap was a Nat King Cole trademark "Nature Boy", so right for Bennett's silky chords, from The Music Man "Till There Was You" and a heartfelt finale filled with love and goodwill for his entire audience, "That's All". He encored with what he named his theme song, Sondheim's rousing anthem "Being Alive".
What a terrific debut @ Sterling's for Bobby Bennett! Music agents, note well! It's one thing to move an audience in an intimate space, but not all artists have the qualities that translate equally well to record; Bennett does. The next time you see him perform, close your eyes and his lilting tones will transport you to wherever you want to be.
