The Stage Door Theatre opened I Left My Heart: A Salute to the Music Of Tony Bennett in Coral Springs last week.Music Direct Phil Hinton leads a small quartet that backs up a cast that includes Matthew Conti, Kyle Taylor Parker, and David Purdy.
Mary Damiano reviewed for Miami Artzine:
Individually, Matthew Conti, Kyle Taylor Parker and David Purdy, do well with the material, for the most part, but they can’t seem to nail the harmonies. Conti is the best singer of the three, Parker handles the minimal choreography with pizzazz, while Purdy, though eager to please, is more workmanlike in his approach to a song. They should stick to solos, because their harmonies are a tough sell—“Embraceable You” is unrecognizable.
The best parts of I Left My Heart has to do with the quartet. First off, it’s great to hear live music at Stage Door, where they tend to use pre-recorded tracks. Second, musical director Phil Hinton, who also plays piano, and the rest of the quartet—Scott Hadsell on bass, Tom Hinton in drums and Tom Stancampiano on trumpet—infuse the show with energy and immediacy. Their playing is flawless, as is the sound design by Martin Mets.
Tony Bennett is an icon, deserving of a show that pays tribute to his talent and longevity. I Left My Heart is pleasant enough, it just doesn’t have all that much to do with Tony Bennett.
I Left My Heart: A Salute to the Music Of Tony Bennett plays through August 2, 2009 at the Broward Stage Door Theatre.
No comments:
Post a Comment