MOST artists rent Madison Square Garden. For one night, salsa sensation Marc Anthony owned it.
Serenading Wednesday’s sold-out house in Spanish during his hourlong set, the charismatic singer only referenced his English-language catalog once for his hit “I Need to Know.” Still, you didn’t need to know what Anthony was singing to feel his vocal command and the depth of his emotional delivery.
The skinny, Nuyorican singer, a wisp of a man, is a powerhouse performer who has absolute musical authority when he’s onstage. If you’re looking for comparisons, think back to the old black-and-white film clips of a young teen idol named Frank Sinatra, back when he was wowing New York at the Paramount Theater.
Anthony was that good, and even better when he invited his bride, Jennifer Lopez, onstage for a he said/she said duet, “No Me Ames,” in the last breaths of the concert.
At the ’05 Grammys, when the Anthonys – then newlyweds – sang together on “Escapemonos,” the chemistry was so nonexistent it made you cringe. This Garden appearance was a complete turnaround. He in a black suit, she wearing a spangled floor-length gown, they looked terrific and sounded in love as they worked through the climactic, crowd-pleasing duet.
The show began with . . . silence: Anthony standing center stage, arms outstretched, fists clenched, eyes closed. No words, no music. It was impressive – he hadn’t sung a note or wiggled his butt, yet he made time stand still.
The toothy smile he beamed as the cheers quelled and the band started to churn was a mix of delight and gratitude for the intense reception.
The audience was rewarded by the best of his salsa songbook including hits such as “Si Te Vas” and “Ahora Quien.”
While his crackerjack band featured 20 musicians, Anthony relied on the 20,000 fans as his backup choir on most songs. The waters where his most devoted fans wouldn’t dare tread were during songs where Anthony showed off his operatic ability to stretch a note indefinitely without losing power or corrupting the tone.