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There is something that seems a bit odd when a short, Jewish black man with a glass eye is performing a sold out show in Germany - a country he has performed in many times and has a popular following. But the late, great Sammy Davis, Jr. wasn’t your typical performer, at least by today’s standards. The charismatic and talented former Rat Pack member was much, much more than a singer. Some of his various skills come to life on the DVD The Best of Sammy Davis, Jr. - Live.

The hour long 1985 concert took place in a new venue which obviously wasn’t meant for comfortable seating at performances of this type, judging by the chairs that the audience are in. Still, it is an attractive architectural structure and the audience was dressed to the nines to watch Sammy perform, decked out in a black coat and tie along with all of his gold and diamond jewelry. The comedian/actor/singer/dancer, the first performer at this venue, gives his all as he performs not only some of his most well-known songs, but those of some of his friends.

The concert begins with “Where or When” and goes into a song made famous by Sinatra, “New York, New York.” Sammy is backed by a large Big Band orchestra of piano, percussion, upright bass, horns, strings and a little woodwind.  A couple of songs later he has doffed the black coat as he does an entertaining, light-hearted version of “Candy Man.”

Some of Sammy’s other talents start shining through once he gets to “I’m Singing In The Rain,” the song that brings images of Gene Kelly dancing to mind. Sammy puts on his tap shoes for this song and shows that he still has it as he gets down for a lengthy number with a roaring round of applause that follows.

As the show proceeds, “The Lady Is A Tramp” sneaks up on the audience as Sammy jokes around with them about what he knows of the German language. He really gets the song rocking as the orchestra whips through this fun song.

The next song is probably the second most entertaining part of the set. It’s a jazzy sort of take on a song when he first played Germany years ago. He starts out with a little Scat as the drummer plays a cool little rhythm and he plays air instruments while singing the parts of the instrument he is playing throughout his medley and eventual improv of “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.” Watching him reminds me a little of James Brown because some of the actions and moves that he makes onstage aren’t just dancing or getting into the groove. His movements are visual cues to the musicians as to what they need to do in regards to tempo, volume, syncopation, hits, etc.

There are, of course, a few more songs in between the titles I’m mentioning, but I don’t want to give away the entire concert. I do have to say that the most entertaining piece is “As Time Goes By,” in which Sammy not only sings the song with cigarette in hand and walks through the audience, but he does impersonations of some of his friends and other performers: Nat King Cole, Mel “The Velvet Fog” Torme, Louis Armstrong, Humphrey Bogart, Dean Martin, James Cagney and a couple of other singers and actors. Not only does he imitate their voices, but a few of their well-known characteristics as well.

He rounds the show out with the song that became a surprise hit for him back in the ‘70s - “Mr. Bojangles.” It was a country song that Sammy never really wanted to do, but it ended up becoming such a big number as it help to put him back on the musical map. He wears a bowler as performs in a strong spotlight, exuding style and class.

Sammy died 5 years later, in debt, from throat cancer at the age of 64. But in this live performance, the small, uneducated man from Harlem who had spent most his entire life onstage, gives a wonderful performance. His voice and dance moves are as strong as ever.

The DVD is full screen with Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound, DTS or Digital Stereo. It would’ve been nice to have a photo gallery spotlighting his career, or maybe an old interview with him or a current interview with friends and family. Although part of the Rat Pack is dead and gone, I’m sure that people like his daughter, Jerry Lewis, Liza Minnelli, Peter Lawford, Joey Bishop or Ben Vereen would’ve been a great group of people to talk about Sammy, the man who was sometimes billed as “The Greatest Living Entertainer In The World.”

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