Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Put the phone book in front of Seal and he can make it sound spectacular. Do the same with a pile of a standards from the 1930s with some artistic license extending into the early ‘60s and he can conquer those too, not that Frank Sinatra or Cole Porter needed any help.

By the back half, Seal transitioned to his own work and gradually picked up the pace, serenading on acoustic guitar with “Kiss From A Rose,” stunning with the pensive “Prayer For The Dying” and making his way into the audience for the clubby “Killer,” pulling together the fists of several fans in a stirring display of unity.

Nonetheless, Seal could’ve unflinchingly passed an audition for the Rat Pack and the front portion of his Ravinia return made the spacious outdoor amphitheater feel like the Sands supper club. “I’m thrilled to be opening my tour here. I love this place,” he personally added in between tackling “Luck Be A Lady,” “I Put A Spell On You,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and “My Funny Valentine” with the ease of an established pro.

But leave it to the ever-shifting Seal to take something as straightforward as a standards theme and throw listeners for a loop, incorporating New Orleans veteran Irma Thomas’ “Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)” right alongside more traditional material from the Great American Songbook such as “It Was A Very Good Year” and “That’s Life.”

By the back half, Seal transitioned to his own work and gradually picked up the pace, serenading on acoustic guitar with “Kiss From A Rose,” stunning with the pensive “Prayer For The Dying” and making his way into the audience for the clubby “Killer,” pulling together the fists of several fans in a stirring display of unity. He returned to the main stage for a soulful version of Steve Miller Band’s “Fly Like An Eagle,” which really utilized the ten-piece band rounded out by a bubbling brass section.

Seal just couldn’t get enough of the receptive crowd, getting down in the aisles to “Love On The Dance Floor,” the standout groove from his last original album “7.” The encore couldn’t have been anything but “Crazy” and he graciously obliged, stitching together the broad engagement with an immediately recognizable voice that wound up being his most indispensable instrument.

For additional information on Seal, visit Seal.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at Ravinia include Jill Scott and The Roots (Jun. 22); Roger Daltrey performs The Who’s “Tommy” (Jun. 23 and 25); Bryan Adams (Jun. 29); Snarky Puppy (Jul. 2); Classic Albums Live Presents: “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” (Jul. 7); Buddy Guy and Jonny Lang (Jul. 8); Evanescence and Lindsey Stirling (Jul. 10); Mary J. Blige (Jul. 20) and “Lost 80’s Live” (Jul. 29). For additional details, visit Ravinia.org.

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