St. Louis Vocalist Performs in An Evening of Jazz

From singing on the back of his father’s vegetable truck in the early days when a music career was just a dream, to getting style tips from Tony Bennett, vocalist Tony Viviano has done it all.

Throughout the course of his 40-year career, Viviano has become comfortable in many musical genres, from jazz and rock to blues and funk. Jazz takes the forefront during an 8-11 p.m. show Friday at Robbie’s House of Jazz in Webster Groves. Viviano will perform with saxophonist Jerry Greene and his jazz quartet, which features , bassist Chris Watrous and drummer Montez Coleman.

Viviano said he is thrilled to be performing with Greene, whom he calls his best friend in the music industry.

“He’s such a master musician—all of them are,” Viviano said. “They know the ropes on jazz. They know what’s going on. They always perform with a clean, fresh taste, and they get right down to business. It’s the way they interpret the song. They take so many liberties and yet they come right back on one, and they make the song their own. I enjoy working with them.”

Viviano has spent most of his career performing in St. Louis. He met his wife here, and they raised two children.

“I love what I do, and I love working with jazz musicians,” he said. “But you can’t put me in one bag either. I gotta do all different types of music. I gotta do blues, jazz, rock, funk. I did folk music in my early days. It’s just interesting the way I’ve watched the music change."

Viviano has tried to follow the example of his friend and teacher.

"The way Tony Bennett does things, the older he gets, the better he gets,” he said.

Viviano is jazzed about working with Greene, who is so knowledgeable about the genre he has written the book Patterns for Jazz, which is used as a text in college and high school music programs.

“He’s just got a certain air about him, that he knows how the music goes,” he said. “He could play rock, but he chooses to do jazz.”

Friday’s performance will include a tribute to jazz legend Duke Ellington, including “Sophisticated Lady,” “Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me,” “In a Mellow Tone” and more. The performance will be a true collaboration between Viviano and Greene’s quartet.

“I’m not gonna sing every song,” he said. “They’re gonna be focused on what they’re doing, and that’s what takes it to another level.”

Viviano is very complimentary about the musicians he will perform with, describing them in glowing terms such as “remarkable” and “incredible.”

Byrne teaches jazz at Webster University. Watrous has an eight-string bass mounted on a stand. Greene plays seven or eight instruments, has arranged all of Viviano’s music and is “just a wonderful guy.” All of them have played in his band at some point.

“I’m honored to work with them,” Viviano said. “They’ve helped me out all these years.”

Robbie’s House of Jazz is at 22 Allen Street in Webster Groves. Admission is $10 adults, $5 for students with identification. For more information, call 314-968-5556.