Oct 10
Crooner Jonathan Karrant Brings 'The Tony Bennett Songbook' to Scullers This Weekend
John Amodeo READ TIME: 5 MIN.
Tony Bennett's Great American Songbook repertoire falls right in Karrant's pocket. Karrant grew up in a musical household, with an uncle who had a big band, so he was immersed in that music from an early age, which is also when he began singing, mostly at family gatherings. It wasn't until later in high school when he started singing for audiences. During that time, he was listening to people like Elvis, Frank Sinatra, the Tommy Dorsey Big Band, then later to Carmen McRae, Mel Tormé, Oscar Peterson, Johnny Coltrane and Johnny Hartman.
Contemplating what draws him to a particular song, he describes it is a combination of both the music and the lyrics. "Music is like a good building or a good suit," asserts Karrant. "If it is well built and well-made and can stand the test of time, I like it. If I take a rock song from the '80s, and turn it into a jazz song, it is because the lyrics and melody speak to me, and I arrange it so it can be more timeless and less trendy and more interesting from my perspective. It's a matter of taste."
Jonathan Karrant will perform "The Tony Bennett Songbook" on Saturday, October 12, 7 PM at Scullers Jazz Club, 400 Soldiers Field Road, Boston, MA 02134. Tickets: $35-$95. For reservations, visit
this website
John Amodeo is a free lance writer living in the Boston streetcar suburb of Dorchester with his husband of 23 years. He has covered cabaret for Bay Windows and Theatermania.com, and is the Boston correspondent for Cabaret Scenes Magazine.
