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charlene · 05-28-2009, 10:55 PM

The Star
article & comments @ http://www.thestar.com/article/641011
IC LAST NIGHT
TheStar.com | Music | Billy Joel, Elton John duel pianos at the ACC

Billy Joel, Elton John duel pianos at the ACC

May 27, 2009 04:30 AM
Comments on this story (9)
Ashante Infantry
JAZZ & POP CRITIC

Billy Joel certainly had his work cut out for him, returning to the Air Canada Centre stage after a thrilling Elton John set which featured expanded versions of the Brit's tunes, such as "Madman Across the Water" and "Rocket Man."

"Elton wows them," proclaimed the cheekily apt graphic that capped John's 75-minute solo appearance which ended with "Crocodile Rock" and a sated crowd roaring approval.

Despite well-documented abuses, the 62-year-old's voice is rigorous in the lower range and his right hand remains a harmonic beast.

The pop legends had opened the show together on this edition of their duo gig first launched in 1994. The 2003 Toronto stop was aborted due to SARS because "your health minister said `Don't come,'" Joel said last night.

This 3 1/2-hour outing, titled Face2Face, drew a capacity crowd, including a few hundred who anted up for behind-the-stage seats (for which Joel thanked them).

It was a worthy spectacle. Two opposing grand pianos rose out of stage and with great fanfare of music, bows and flourishes, the two icons – distinguished by their songwriting, performance and personalities – sat and began mining their incredible catalogues, trading lines and licks on "Your Song," "Just the Way You Are," "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" and "My Life."

Clad in a conservative grey suit, Joel inveigled the crowd, while the showy John – appliquéd jacket, purple shirt, silver shoes, his initials on his spectacles – was all business.

Then John delivered the first individual portion with a hard driving band of peers. With clever lighting and spare video imagery, he demonstrated his agility on the ivories, weaving blues and jazz into his pop-rock signatures.

But Joel, 60, who followed with a crew of younger players, held his own.

A little raspier than in his youth, the New York native was relentless on the keys and also had the audience dancing and belting the choruses of favourites, such as "Allentown," "Don't Ask Me Why" and "She's Always a Woman."

Between songs, he cracked a few X-rated jokes, did impressions (including Gordon Lightfoot) and delivered ex-wife anecdotes.

They were a complimentary pair, well-served by the arena's acoustics. Joel charmed, but John impressed.

Does Caledon mansion belong to Elton John?
Caledon is abuzz over a large house in town that locals say becomes strangely active when Sir Elton and his Toronto-born partner David Furnish are in town.One icon gives another a tough act to follow
http://www.thestar.com/Article/640964

05-28-2009, 10:55 PM	#6
charlene Moderator Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 16,001	Re: Elton & Billy show hit the right keys The Star article & comments @ http://www.thestar.com/article/641011 IC LAST NIGHT TheStar.com \| Music \| Billy Joel, Elton John duel pianos at the ACC Billy Joel, Elton John duel pianos at the ACC May 27, 2009 04:30 AM Comments on this story (9) Ashante Infantry JAZZ & POP CRITIC Billy Joel certainly had his work cut out for him, returning to the Air Canada Centre stage after a thrilling Elton John set which featured expanded versions of the Brit's tunes, such as "Madman Across the Water" and "Rocket Man." "Elton wows them," proclaimed the cheekily apt graphic that capped John's 75-minute solo appearance which ended with "Crocodile Rock" and a sated crowd roaring approval. Despite well-documented abuses, the 62-year-old's voice is rigorous in the lower range and his right hand remains a harmonic beast. The pop legends had opened the show together on this edition of their duo gig first launched in 1994. The 2003 Toronto stop was aborted due to SARS because "your health minister said `Don't come,'" Joel said last night. This 3 1/2-hour outing, titled Face2Face, drew a capacity crowd, including a few hundred who anted up for behind-the-stage seats (for which Joel thanked them). It was a worthy spectacle. Two opposing grand pianos rose out of stage and with great fanfare of music, bows and flourishes, the two icons – distinguished by their songwriting, performance and personalities – sat and began mining their incredible catalogues, trading lines and licks on "Your Song," "Just the Way You Are," "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" and "My Life." Clad in a conservative grey suit, Joel inveigled the crowd, while the showy John – appliquéd jacket, purple shirt, silver shoes, his initials on his spectacles – was all business. Then John delivered the first individual portion with a hard driving band of peers. With clever lighting and spare video imagery, he demonstrated his agility on the ivories, weaving blues and jazz into his pop-rock signatures. But Joel, 60, who followed with a crew of younger players, held his own. A little raspier than in his youth, the New York native was relentless on the keys and also had the audience dancing and belting the choruses of favourites, such as "Allentown," "Don't Ask Me Why" and "She's Always a Woman." Between songs, he cracked a few X-rated jokes, did impressions (including Gordon Lightfoot) and delivered ex-wife anecdotes. They were a complimentary pair, well-served by the arena's acoustics. Joel charmed, but John impressed. Does Caledon mansion belong to Elton John? Caledon is abuzz over a large house in town that locals say becomes strangely active when Sir Elton and his Toronto-born partner David Furnish are in town.One icon gives another a tough act to follow http://www.thestar.com/Article/640964