Antonia Bennett, the acclaimed jazz singer and daughter of legendary jazz icon Tony Bennett, is partnering with Jazz Angels for “One Night Only,” a concert to help raise funds and awareness on behalf of Jazz Angels non-profit youth organization. This exclusive event will take place on Saturday, May 25, at the Salvation Army Red Shield Theatre from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Bennett, known for her captivating performances and rich musical heritage, will grace the stage alongside select Jazz Angels staff for an unforgettable concert experience performing songs from the Great American Songbook, including “Old Devil Moon,” “Night and Day,” and “Every Time We Say Goodbye.” Growing up surrounded by icons like Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra, Bennett has mesmerized audiences worldwide, performing as Tony’s opening act at esteemed venues, including Radio City Music Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, the Newport Jazz Festival, and Royal Albert Hall in London.
Partnering with Jazz Angels for this special event, Bennett aims to support the organization’s mission of providing musical education and mentorship to youth across Los Angeles County. Proceeds from the concert will directly contribute to expanding Jazz Angels programming into underserved communities, empowering more young talents to discover and nurture their passion for jazz music. Bennett’s performance comes on the heels of recording her forthcoming album, which will be released later this year, and her latest single, “Right on Time.”
“Collaborating with Jazz Angels for ‘One Night Only’ is incredibly exciting. We’re poised to make a real difference in the lives of young musicians, sparking their passion for jazz and empowering them to pursue their musical dreams,” said Bennett.
“Jazz Angels are so happy to partner with Antonia Bennett on what promises to be the first of many events. Together, we will empower young musicians, preserve jazz, and expand our programs into more and more underserved areas,” said Barry Cogert, managing director of Jazz Angels.
With Antonia Bennett, the daughter of legendary crooner Tony Bennett, it’s usually the same old songs. Tried and true, she knows the lyrics and how to make you feel them as she sings from the Great American Songbook, pop tunes that have been interpreted and reinterpreted by vocalists and musicians, including her 91-year-old father, across different genres for years. This collection of titles, also known as “American standards,” includes songs such as “The Way You Look Tonight,” “I’m in the Mood for Love,” “The Nearness of You” and many more. Bennett, who will open for her father (who recently won a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Album) at his Richmond concert this month, lends her unique touch to the catalog, a jazz sensibility that conveys warmth and sincerity.
“People like things that are familiar to them, and so on that level, it obviously touches people,” she says. “I really feel that the American Songbook lends itself to jazz musicians. All these songs started out as pop songs and, through that, [offer] the freedom to do it in a different way every time. Everybody has their own take and their own arrangement.”
When she’s not opening for her father, or singing with him, Bennett has been known to stray from the list of American standards, throwing in a song from the band Queen or another of her rock favorites. But not for her father’s crowds, who might not be familiar with Freddie Mercury. After her set, she sometimes returns to duet with her father, but she can’t say for certain if that will happen in Richmond. It’s the kind of thing that’s based on how he feels on a particular night.
Bennett shares some guidance that her father gave her, which might explain her success with the Songbook. “The best advice he ever gave me is, when you sing a love song, when you say the word ‘love’ in a song, make sure that you really mean it,” she says. “And breathe before each phrase, and things like that.”
Collaborating with Jazz Angels for ‘One Night Only’ is incredibly exciting. We’re poised to make a real difference in the lives of young musicians, sparking their passion for jazz and empowering them to pursue their musical dreams. —Antonia Bennett
