The auditorium at New Brunswick, NJ’s State Theatre is bustling this Wednesday, March 13, 2019 evening as music lovers await a concert by the legendary pop singer, Johnny Mathis.
Before the show starts, we take a moment to chat with Kelly from Woodbridge who is sitting in the front row holding a bouquet of red roses.
“Johnny Mathis is one of my favorite singers,” confesses Kelly. “After getting his Greatest Hits album a few years ago, I went on to discover his back catalogue, and now I have a whole collection of his music. His entire catalogue is a virtual gold mine of great cover songs.”
Adding, “This is my third time seeing him, but my first time in the front row,” Kelly holds up her bouquet of flowers and says, “These roses are for him. I chose them because he’s classy and he’s classic. At the most recent concert I attended, I saw people in the front row giving him flowers at the end of the show and I knew that’s what I wanted to do at this concert. I love him so much. It’s his voice — he’s still got that voice — and he still sounds amazing.”
We also talk to Dawn from Absecon, who tells us she’s attended over 300 Johnny Mathis concerts.
“I saw him in Biloxi for Christmas this year and in Las Vegas last May,” says Dawn. When asked how she became a fan, she explains, “20 years ago I was invited to hear him perform live and my first reaction was, ‘Do you mean the ‘Chances Are’ guy?’ Soon after, I bought one of his albums and I’ve been hooked ever since.”
Wendy from England informs us that she’s seen at least 200 Johnny Mathis concerts in several different countries including England, Scotland, Wales, Canada, and the US.
“He’s got this magic about him,” contends Wendy before exclaiming, “We’ve just got to get our fix of his magic — he’s fabulous!”
Her friend, Frances from Scotland, concurs asserting, “Johnny Mathis just captures your heart. He has a beautiful voice and he is so kind. We’ve met him — he’s so charming — and when he talks to you, he makes you feel like you’re the only person on earth.”
The auditorium lights dim and guitarist Gil Reigers, bassist Ken Wild, percussionist Joe Lizama, and musical director/keyboardist John Scott Lavendar take the stage along with members of a large orchestra filled with string, woodwind, brass, and percussion players.
The moment fans in the audience catch their first glimpse of Johnny Mathis walking out onto the stage, they leap to their feet, much to his surprise and delight.
Audience members applaud as Mathis sings the first line of his opening number, “When I Fall in Love,” accompanied by piano and bass. The phrasing, pitch, and dynamics of this master singer capture the hearts of his many fans in the crowd who express their appreciation for his talent with enthusiastic applause.
Greeting the audience by exclaiming, “Thank you so much for your enthusiasm!” Mathis, 83, announces, “These are all songs I want to sing,” before segueing into a medley of hits which includes such classics as “It’s Not for Me to Say,” where the lush orchestra accompanies his sweet clear voice; “Chances Are,” a number which has audience members singing along with Johnny as they follow his lead; and “Gina,” an arrangment with a Latin beat where violin glissandos fill and compliment Mathis’ expert phrasing.
Horns add to the pop feel of “I’m On the Outside Looking In,” before Mathis provides a heartfelt and moving performance on “Wild is the Wind.” Accompanied solely by musical director/keyboardist John Scott Lavender on piano, Mathis’ smooth voice not only impresses the audience, but also the cadre of musicians on stage who watch him with expressions of admiration for his prodigious vocal ability and stage presence.
Following a unique arrangement of “Shenandoah,” Mathis’ crystal clear voice shines on “Let it Be Me,” a number which features background harmonies provided by guitarist Gil Reigers.
Mathis continues with the rhythmic “Let Go (Canto De Ossanha),” after which he muses, “I kind of get lost in that song.” Then, he presents a medley of songs by his friend, composer Henry Mancini, including the upbeat Latin number, “It Had Better Be Tonight,” a tune with a Spanish flair known as “Charade,” and the beautiful love ballad, “The Days of Wine and Roses,” on which strings help Mathis to create an aural masterpiece of note and nuance.
Mathis especially appears to enjoy performing with his onstage colleagues on the Latin-inspired “From Moment to Moment” before singing Mancini’s classic, “Moon River,” with a rendition that inspires the crowd to leap to its feet.
“What a joy it is to sing Henry Mancini’s music!” exclaims Mathis to the crowd before adding, “I still miss him greatly. He wrote such beautiful music.”
After introducing the audience to comedian Gary Mule Deer, Mathis leaves the stage. At this point, Mule Deer entertains the crowd by telling jokes while playing his guitar, doing impressions of artists like Johnny Cash, and concluding with a performance of Ed Bruce’s “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys.”
During a short intermission, we take a moment to chat with Sylvia from Lindenhurst, NY who tells us, “I’ve seen Gary Mule Deer several times, and each time I laugh!”
Continuing by acknowledging, “I’ve been a fan of Johnny Mathis since I’ve been 12 years old,” Sylvia admits, “I’ve seen him in concert between 550 and 600 times.”
Explaining, “I see about half of the shows he does — I travel all over to see him,” Sylvia confesses, “I love him — he’s incredible — and his shows are magical,” before adding, “All of his fans feel like I do!”
Act II opens with a piano and vocal arrangement of “Like Someone in Love,” which is quickly followed by a jazz rendition of “All Alone Am I,” Mathis’ voice sounding clear and resonant as he puts on a master class on popular singing.
John Scott Lavender provides the sound of a Fender Rhodes keyboard to underscore the orchestra’s arrangement of “A Certain Smile,” where Mathis’ patented vibrato is on display for all to enjoy.
The outstanding acoustics of the State Theatre play a major part in the overall presentation of Mathis’ stellar rendition of “Baubles, Bangles, and Beads,” a jazzy arrangement which also features solo violin and keyboard. He follows up with a performance of the classic, “Stranger in Paradise,” which opens with a harp glissando before involving the talents of the full orchestra.
Arpeggiated piano runs accompany Mathis’ gorgeous tone on “A Secret Love,” his face expressive as he croons this lovely crowd pleaser. Then, pointing to members of the audience as he sings, the crowd adores Mathis’ performance of his 1957 hit, “Wonderful, Wonderful,” the orchestra sounding true and clear in this pristine listening environment.
Audience members are pleased by Mathis’ inclusion of The Stylistics’ “Betcha By Golly Wow,” an upbeat arrangement which features background vocal harmonies by guitarist Gil Reigers.
At the conclusion, the audience applauds while Mathis refers to the song as “a little gem,” adding, “I love that!”
The sweet sound of strings fills the air on “Misty,” and the audience bursts into applause when Mathis holds a note — soft and high — for what seems like moments before the arrangement concludes with an angelic harp coda.
After introducing Gil Reigers — saying, “It’s a joy to sing with him” — Mathis invites his guitarist to the foot of the stage for a series of songs including The Beatles’ “Yesterday”; a touching and poignant rendition of Helen Reddy’s “You and Me Against the World”; a jazzy orchestral version of “My Foolish Heart,” complete with flute; and an emotional and artistic arrangement of “99 Miles,” which has Reigers’ deft guitar fingerpicking style contrasting with Mathis’ smooth and pleading vocal.
Following the sensitive ballad, “The Twelfth of Never,” Mathis introduces the musicians of his rhythm section to the crowd before blowing kisses to the members of his on-stage orchestra.
An upbeat version of Sérgio Mendes and Brasil ’66’s “Mas Que Nada” delights the crowd before Mathis segues into his final number — a tour de force performance of “Manhã de Carnaval.”
At the song’s conclusion, a group of women in the front row hand Mathis flowers and presents. Honestly touched, he shakes hands with many of his loyal fans and holds up his collection of gifts for all to see before walking off the stage and soon returning, throwing kisses to the crowd.
During his first encore, a large group of women stand at the foot of the stage as Mathis entrances them with a powerful rendition of “How Do You Keep the Music Playing” before he invites John Scott Lavender and Gary Mule Deer to join him for several well-deserved bows.
Concluding the evening with a jazzy rendition of “Let the Good Times Roll,” Mathis has audience members on their feet, clapping and grooving along to this feel-good number before saying goodnight to the enraptured crowd.
As audience members make their way out of the auditorium, we chat with several in attendance who share their reactions to Johnny Mathis’ performance tonight.
Declares Juanita from Basking Ridge, “This was the best show ever — I can’t believe Johnny Mathis is 83!” before adding, “and he and the orchestra were wonderful.”
Donna from Middlesex agrees acknowledging, “I’ve seen Johnny Mathis before and I think tonight he was better than ever. His voice is incredible, he looks fantastic, his performance is effortless — and I also got to shake his hand!”
Billie from the Bronx concurs recalling, “I’ve been a fan since 1957 when I first heard him on the radio. It’s unbelievable, though — every time I see him, he sounds better than the time before.”
Marcia from West Hartford, CT reveals, “I first heard Johnny Mathis in 1960 and I thought he had the most beautiful voice I’d ever heard. Since then, I’ve seen him in concert over 2,000 times.”
Explaining, “One day, I had an epiphany which told me that I should see Johnny Mathis as often as I could — I mean, he’s the man,” Marcia continues by asking, “When you’re in his presence, can you even believe what you are hearing? Where does that sound come from?” and answering, “I’ll tell you. He’s an angel.”
Lastly, we chat with Dotty from Oaklyn who says about Johnny Mathis, “What a joy! I am so glad I came tonight,” before concluding with a smile, “As far as I’m concerned, he’s just ‘Wonderful, Wonderful!’”
To learn more about Johnny Mathis, please go johnnymathis.com. For information on upcoming performances at New Brunswick’s State Theatre NJ— including Chicago on April 15, Joe Jackson on May 18, and the Happy Together Tour 2019 featuring The Turtles, Chuck Negron, Gary Puckett, The Buckinghams, The Classics IV, and The Cowsills on May 29 — please click on stnj.org.
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