POP MUSIC REVIEW : Bennett at Greek: Smooth Vocals, Little Interpretation

Tony Bennett’s singing is a lot like his landscape paintings--superficially appealing, immediately accessible and, ultimately, almost completely lacking in depth of interpretation.

His program at the Greek Theatre on Saturday framed Bennett’s voice in settings ranging from a string orchestra and a big band to his usual accompanists, the Ralph Sharon Trio. Dozens of songs were touched upon, including the familiar hits--”I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” “Rags to Riches,” “Just in Time,” et al.--as well as more recent material from his “MTV Unplugged” appearance.

Without exception, Bennett sang each tune with a beatific smile on his face, while bulldozing nearly every climax with a demonstration of his ability (shaky at times) to hit and hold high notes.

The enthusiastic, sold-out audience loved every happy Bennett gaze and every white-tuxedoed, magisterial pose. And no one seemed at all concerned that his brief readings offered little more than melodic statements of the words. Of interpretation and understanding, there was virtually none. A typical example: a rendering of “How Do You Keep the Music Playing” in which he distorted the final line solely to set up an aria-like, high-note climax.

Bennett has recently displayed a surprising capacity to reach a wide following. But, as was amply clear Saturday, too often what comes across is not the song, but Tony Bennett listening to Tony Bennett singing the song.