Tony Bennett is playing it `Cool'

Tony Bennett with the Ralph Sharon Quartet 8 p.m. SaturdayRavinia, Green Bay and Lake-Cook, Highland Park Tickets, $10; onlylawn seats remain (847) 266-5100 Tony Bennett just laughs when areporter makes a lame attempt at an "I Left My Heart in SanFrancisco" joke at the expense of the music legend.

"I think, by this time, there isn't a one-liner about that songand me that I haven't heard," chuckles Bennett, phoning from his NewYork home.

"Remember, they even made fun of it recently in that (credit card)commercial."

Bennett may be eternally tied to the city by the bay in northernCalifornia, but he also has a big place in his heart for the Chicagoarea - always a regular stop on the singer's touring schedule. Inparticular, Bennett is fond of Ravinia, where once again he'll croonthose American songbook classics Saturday night.

"The reason I love playing Ravinia so much is because the peoplelove to go there. They really enjoy sitting under the trees, sittingback so the music just floats out to them. . . . I like going to aplace where everyone's comfortable and enjoying themselves."

While Tony Bennett is about to release his 99th album - "BennettSings Ellington: Hot & Cool" - the famous song stylist continues tobe energized by performing in front of live audiences. "For the past51 years I've done 200 dates a year - all over the world. I enjoy itbecause I find it interesting that I never fail to learn things aboutperforming . . . even at this stage."

Bennett unabashedly says, "This is the greatest time of my life,"a comment that might surprise some, realizing the singer is now inhis 70s.

"The thing that is phenomenal . . . here I am facing a situationthat I think has never happened before in show business.

"Usually, when someone reaches my age and has had the kind ofcareer I've had and have sustained for that long - they are veryrespected. But then they go into a sort of semi-retirement. You'restill well-loved, but you're not on the scene as a `now' kind ofartist.

"The young people changed all that for me. Once I won the Albumof the Year on MTV, it opened up something that had never happenedbefore: someone my age communicating (musically) with a far youngerdemographic group."

With Frank Sinatra and Mel Torme gone, many consider Bennett thelast of his generation's great singers. Is he worried about "thekind of music I love" dying out after he moves on to that big soundstage in the sky?

"No. Not at all. There are plenty of young artists who areactually doing a great job today. . . . Harry Connick (Jr.) is oneand, even though he's not a singer, so is Wynton Marsalis. . . . Notonly is he a great musician, but more importantly he's a greatteacher. Through all those programs he does around the country, hemakes young people learn about the kind of music I really believe in.So many kids think the whole jazz thing started with John Coltrane.Period. (Marsalis) reminds them that there was also a Roy Eldridge,Ella Fitzgerald, Coleman Hawkins and Charlie Parker."

Bennett is such a fan of Marsalis, he even features himprominently in his upcoming Ellington album. Due out Sept. 28 on theRPM/Columbia label, "Hot & Cool" includes Bennett's longtime backupgroup the Ralph Sharon Quartet, trombonist Al Grey and JuilliardString Quartet first violinist Joel Smirnoff playing such Ellingtonclassics as "Sophisticated Lady," "Prelude to a Kiss," "Mood Indigo"and "She's Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)."

Bennett's bond with Ellington - who would have celebrated hiscentennial this year - goes back decades. "I always had a specialfondness for the Duke. Our families were close to one another. Inever knew anyone more adjusted to life. He was completely energeticto the day he died . . . every moment counted for him. He was alwayscreating, always making people feel good."

Bennett is clearly in a nostalgic mood. Talk of Ellington quicklysegues to memories of Bennett's biggest fan: Frank Sinatra. "Hereally was a best friend. He always was in my corner. Alwaysplugged me, supported me and encouraged me."

The singer says, "That hits the bull's-eye," when asked if loyaltywas the one quality he felt Sinatra most treasured. "No questionabout it, he was loyal and he expected it in return. . . . His wholephilosophy of life was centered on it . . . and conversely, oncesomeone crossed him, that was it. They were off the list. Youcouldn't even bring their names up in his presence," Bennett saidwith a rueful laugh.

While Bennett has had one of the most successful careers in 20thcentury show business, he readily acknowledges that times were toughin the early 1960s, when the British invasion of the Beatles and theRolling Stones changed musical tastes for an entire generation ortwo.

"I went to talk to Count Basie, because we were friends - I wasthe first white guy to sing with his band. I asked him what hethought I should do. . . . All these rock 'n' roll guys were playingstadium concerts. The whole concept of doing music in a stadium wastotally new then.

"Without missing a beat, the Count looked up at me and said,`Tony, why change an apple? Just keep doing what you're doing - whatyou know how to do so well - and everything will be fine.' "

Bennett is such a fan of such a wide range of the Americansongbook - Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, the Gershwins, Irving Berlin,Harold Arlen, Rogers and Hart - one might think he would have a hardtime picking one tune that represented the quintessential TonyBennett song.

"Sure I love them all, but as far as I'm concerned Jerome Kern's`All the Things You Are' is the best song ever written," Bennettsaid.

And the secret to why so many Italians and Italian Americans havefound success in show business? "Well, after all, in a sense theyinvented it . . . the commedia dell'arte opera and the rest . . .most of the great art in Europe can be found in Italy."

So. It's in the blood?

"More like, it's in the tomato sauce," said Tony Bennett, signingoff with that warm, wonderful, soft-gravelly chuckle.