CityLife

Tom Jones

Tom Jones at Tatton Park 1 / 2 images

 Unlike many silver singers, Tom Jones has always looked to the future rather than the past - finding interesting ways to reinvent himself in order to appeal across the generations.

Over the years, he has recorded pop, rock, folk, blues and blue-eyed soul. His latest album, Praise and Blame, celebrates the world of gospel.

When he toured the US earlier this year, Jones, no doubt feeling suitably refreshed after his latest reinvention, decided to ditch the hits in order to perform his new gospel album in its entirety.

However, tonight’s gig was all about celebrating the past as the Welsh crooner unleashed a string of hits to the thousands of excitable fans packed into the picturesque surroundings of Tatton Park.

Even at the ripe age of 71 the Welsh crooner still managed to look youthful and stylish in a black suit - which was, of course, slightly unbuttoned.

Jones was wowing the crowd within minutes, encouraging them to sing and clap along.

His easy style and witty banter made the performance feel intimate and personal despite the size of the park.

As well as new songs and some classics he performed excellent renditions of Sex Bomb and Louis Armstrong’s forgotten classic, St. James Infirmary .

The surprisingly powerful Deliah shook the audience out of their pork pie slumber while the effortlessly crowd-pleasing Mamma Told Me Not To Come and It’s Not Unusual got the picnicgoers off the rugs and on their feet dancing.

A heart-rendering version of A Green Green Grass Home had some audience members crying into their Pimms and lemonade.

If Elvis had lived to an old age and spent his semi-retirement touring the hits, his show probably wouldn’t have been as good as this.