Martino’s medley of standards prompts ovations

Joe Delaney

Friday, Jan. 29, 1999 | 12:25 p.m.

What an absolute pleasure, earlier this week in the Orleans hotel's state-of-the-art showroom: A master song salesman, Al Martino, backed by two fine female singers and a full orchestral compliment including strings, superb musical arrangements and a faultless song selection, sung with feeling and great style. Except for two recent one-night concerts elsewhere, Martino has been too long away from here -- our loss.

Musical director John Rodby conducted a brief but effective overture. Martino's voice was heard from backstage singing "Here In My Heart" to an immediate audience response. He was home free at his entrance singing "With A Song In My Heart." "The Song Is You" was followed by "What Now, My Love" and Al paused for some talk and a special arrangement by Rodby, newly added, on "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing" to thunderous applause.

Two innocuous but funny Clinton jokes brought him back to the planned song list. It should be noted that Martino ranks with Perry Como as far as being relaxed -- talking and singing -- on stage. A nicely up tempo "Just In Time" was followed by 'Somewhere" from "West Side Story," the best I've heard this difficult song sung. "Begin The Beguine" was a hit from the introduction to its big finish.

"Once Upon A Time," the great standard "Where Or When" and a softly sung "It Had To Be You" was made even more effective when he brought a lady up on stage to dance with him during the orchestral interlude. "Quando, Quando" followed by a bravura medley from "Phantom of the Opera" led to his first of a number of standing ovations.

A few 1960s recording hits came next. "Mary In The Morning," a folk song, and "I Love You More And More Each Day," a country song, led to the biggest recording hit of his long career, "Spanish Eyes." The audience was standing once again.

"Love Me With All Your Heart" preceded a nice lead-in to his role as singer Johnny Fontaine in "The Godfather." "Speak Softly Love" was followed by an Italian medley of "Volare" and "Al Di La" and the audience was up once more.

Martino graciously introduced the girl vocalists, Mary Catherine Kaar and Heidi Summers, his drummer, Mike Nigro, also from Philadelphia as is Martino, then Rodby, and he had the orchestra take a bow. It was time for a couple of more stories, punch lines well received, and Martino decided to forego a couple of listed closers like "Sorrento," "Granada" and "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina."

The performance was now at a very civilized 90 minutes and Martino wisely selected a reprise of the full version of "Here In My Heart" for his departure and still another standing ovation with the audience demanding more, the way it should be done.

This was a most satisfying musical evening, ranking with those spent in the past with Tony Bennett, Vic Damone, Jack Jones, Johnny Mathis, Frank Sinatra, and Martino as well. Shows are at 7 p.m., so there's plenty of time for dinner afterward. Warning: He closes Saturday, not Sunday, this weekend. Make your reservations early. You are in for a rare musical experience.