Cheap Tony Bennett's Wonderful World: Live in San Francisco (DVD) (Tony Bennett) Price

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Customer Reviews of Tony Bennett's Wonderful World: Live in San Francisco

So here you have Tony Bennett, now about 76, singing to a packed ballroom at the Fairmont Hotel (I've visited this hotel) on Nob Hill in downtown San Francisco. Backing him is the great Clayton Cameron on drums and Lee Musiker on the 9 foot Yamaha grand piano. Paul Langosch does a great job on bass, and Gray Sargent an adequate job on guitar. (I say adequate, because if you've seen Anthony Wilson play guitar with Diana Krall's band on "Live in Paris", Gray's comping chords and solo runs begin to pale in comparison).

My pet peeves? The sound mix is a bit thin at times, and occasionally Tony's voice drops out. My other pet peeve is his duets with K. D. Lang--she shows up barefoot dressed in pants and looking a bit sloppy--at the ritzy FAIRMONT BALLROOM??? The Bonus material is also weak, consisting mainly of still shots of Tony's paintings.

But the biggest selling point of this DVD is a live concert on DVD, so that you can enjoy great sound on your home theatre system.

And a good time was had by all. There is "nothing" objectionable in the way of language, so even your grandkids can watch this show. Tony sings mostly favorites from the 60's in traditional orchestral mixes. Only on two or three occasions do the fireworks fly between drummer Clayton, guitarist Gray, bassist Paul and pianist Lee Musicker. This isn't meant as criticism--it's just that the concert mostly stays in the "mellow" range. Cause Lee, Paul, Gray and certainly Clayton Cameron can light some fire given some free reign to do so.

My favorites are his multi song duet tribute with KD Lang to Louis Armstrong, including "La Vie En Rose, and "What a a Wonderful World", plus songs like "I Left My Heart in San Francisco", "How Do You Keep the Music Playing", "When Joanna Loved Me", "I Got Rhythm", "The Best is Yet to Come", and "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing".

I bought this DVD on three criteria: (1) figuring a recently released/recorded DVD might guarantee latest quality DVD sound and video, and (2) the avid recommendations of Amazonians. I can say I was certainly not disappointed with this DVD, but it didn't exceed my expectations either. To have been five stars, it should have had a couple more bonus items, a bit better sound mix, allowing the musicians a couple more goes at letting their energy/talent fly, and getting KD to dress up (and shoe up) at least on the level of Tony's elegantly tailored suit.

What a joy to watch...
This video is an absolute charm. Tony's in fine form, and his performances are fairly true to the recordings, unlike, for example, "Unplugged," where he was in a more jazzy mood. The setting, of course, is perfect ... at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, so you know which song gets the loudest applause. And this DVD is extra special for me ... my son and I were among the crowd you'll see at the end of the DVD at Pacific Bell Park when Tony made a surprise appearance singing "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" before a S.F. Giants game in 2002. (By tradition, the Giants always play that song after they win.) In any event, this is worth seeing over and over.

Phenomenal!
This DVD is simply phenomenal...what more need be said?! Tony Bennett continues to be simply a wonderful gift to mankind. Tony says it best when he mentions that many people the world over have said to him that their greatest dream is to be in San Francisco, on Nob Hill, listening to him sing, "I Left My Heart In San Francisco". This performance, on the 40th anniversary of his signature song's public release, is the next best thing to being there. The San Francisco Fairmont venue, orchestra, Tony's long-standing hits, and the bonus features which include an interactive gallery of Tony's paintings and an interview session with Tony and k.d. Lang make for one of the best concerts along with Diana Krall's "Live In Paris" in my collection....hopefully yours, too!