Matt Dusk is coming to Savannah Center on Nov. 13 and the swinging singer from Canada will be joined on stage with one of his biggest fans – Fernando Varela.
Varela and Dusk appeared together in October at The Sharon and brought down the house with a jiving, improvisational, scat-singing duet on “When The Saints Go Marching In.”
“We had such a blast doing that, we wanted to get together again and have some more fun,” said Varela, an international star who will tape his own PBS Special later this month. The guest appearance with Dusk will probably be the last chance for Villagers to see Fernando before the special.
Varela can’t wait to duet with Dusk once more.
“Matt’s performances are honest and real,” Varela added. “At the same time, he doesn’t take himself too seriously. He’s a lot of fun and a terrific entertainer. He has a rare quality that sets him apart from anyone else in his genre.”
That genre is a throwback to the jazzy, swinging 1940s and ‘50s’ era of great singers like Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Tony Bennett. Dusk, 37, has a way of bringing a contemporary edge to that music.
“I fell in love with that music when I was a teenager and I still love it,” he said. “That music is so reminiscent of a different time that we will never see again.”
Dusk found an appreciative audience in The Villages the last time he performed here.
“It’s great playing for the people in The Villages,” he said. “They love this music as much as I do. The last time I was here was during the hurricane. I think it helped the people here, and myself, to hear this music and try not and worry about the storm.
Dusk enjoyed singing with Varela.
“I met Fernando in Toronto,” he said. “Fernando is a very confident performer. He’s willing to learn and try new things. It’s a joy to share a stage with someone like him. We had a lot of fun singing together and I can’t wait to do it again.”
Music has long been a part of Dusk’s life.
Although he once thought of a career in opera, he eventually moved towards jazz and pop. In Toronto, he studied under famed jazz pianist Oscar Peterson.
“I’ll always remember what Oscar told us: ‘If you want a career in music, do it because you love it.’ That stood out for me and the longer I keep singing for a living, the more I appreciate it.”
Dusk has already earned two gold albums: “Two Shots” (Canada) and “Good News.” He has two other hit albums: “My Funny Valentine” and “Just the Two of Us.”
Dusk just released another album, “Old School Yule,” back up by a 60-piece orchestra.
The album includes 16 holiday tracks – including “White Christmas” and “Jingle Bells”—done in that early 1950s’ cool jazz style.
“Instead of fa-la-la-la-la, we’re doing some ring-a-ding-ding songs,” Dusk stated on his website.
Like Fernando, Dusk’s career seems to be getting bigger all the time.
“I can’t tell you how many gigs I did in dark dingy bars in the old days,” Dusk said during a telephone interview. “The hard work pays off. “
And he’s doing so by singing the songs that matter most to him.
“I think that kind of music – Sinatra, Bennett, Nat Cole – is truly American music. It brings back a cool atmosphere from another time. I don’t think it will ever go away and I’m going to keep singing it.”
In the meantime, Dusk has found something more meaningful. His first child, a daughter named Kaia.
“A lot of things change when you have a child,” Dusk said. “It has given me a new perspective. My career means a lot, but my daughter means more.”
And the little girl digs cool daddy’s voice.
“She loves loud music,” Dusk said. “Every night, I stand by the crib and sing to her. You know what – it puts her to sleep.”
Sinatra couldn’t have done it better.