Riding up the packed escalators to the second-floor atrium of the 900 N. Michigan Shops on a recent Sunday, one could clearly hear the piano music. Once there, wedged between the giant holiday wreath over the massive front window and the three-story gold-encrusted Christmas tree, many holiday shoppers took a moment to listen to Robert Benson at the gleaming grand piano.
The moment passed for most of the shoppers, busy with Christmas lists, loaded down with packages and small children, or hurrying to meet friends.
But seated near the piano in the comfy easy chairs and at the cafe tables, oblivious to the holiday bustle, were many of Benson’s devoted fans who lingered throughout his set, enjoying the unofficial concert.
“This is like a little village inside the city,” said Eleanor Farrell, who comes in with husband Jimmy every Sunday. “We know a lot more people here than when we lived in the suburbs. We’ve met a lot of them while listening to Robert.”
Benson, 55, has been at the piano filling the cavernous mall with the strains of Gershwin, Porter and Andrew Lloyd Webber for 12 years. Some of his regulars have been listening almost as long.
“We love everything he plays,” Farrell said as she nodded at a blond woman sitting nearby with sunglasses perched on her head.
“I don’t know all of them personally, but I know the faces and look forward to seeing them every week,” said Vera Balaz, the woman with the sunglasses and a neighborhood resident of 25 years.
“This is a great place to spend time relaxing and watching people with Robert’s music in the background. I love when he plays the songs with the Latin rhythms–it wakes up everyone.” She sat up and did a little chair bossa nova to Benson’s rendition of “Girl From Impanema” to demonstrate before settling back down.
The Sunday routine
Annaliese Schaller and Milton White, both 77, “lifetime partners” of 28 years who live on Lake Shore Drive, are perhaps Benson’s most devoted fans. They have combined a routine of Benson, brunch and shopping every week for more than a decade.
“This is our Sunday treat and we wouldn’t miss him,” Schaller said. The couple sipped coffee and tapped along as Benson played their favorites (“Spanish Eyes” for Schaller, “Laura” for White). Dressed in Christmas colors, they listened with enthusiasm as Benson nimbly essayed “White Christmas,” “Let It Snow” and “O Christmas Tree.”
Irene DeLevitt, a countess from Germany, also had come to hear her favorite carols, “Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht” (Silent Night, Holy Night) and “O Heilige Nacht” (O Holy Night). Wearing a red fox coat and billowing fur hat, the striking DeLevitt drew looks from passersby. She spoke in German through her caretaker and translator, Monique Nycz, 28.
“She says everything is so beautiful,” Nycz said. “Irene used to sing opera, and perhaps one day she’ll do a recital here.” As she arrived, Benson nodded a greeting to her, as did the other regulars.
“Isn’t she elegant?” said Elizabeth Reeves, indicating DeLevitt on the other side of the piano. Reeves, a writer and artist originally from New Orleans, lives in the neighborhood and for more than six months has been coming to hear Benson play. “There’s a good feeling of togetherness here. We have formed such a nice community,” Reeves said with a hint of a Southern twang.
“Occasionally we’ve met outside the mall socially,” Benson said. “We go for coffee and Leroy gives psychic readings. He’ll read your tea leaves.”
Everyone agreed that Leroy Reed is Benson’s most colorful fan. “He always says, `Enchante, mademoiselle,’ when he sees me,” Reeves laughed. The charming septuagenarian reminisced about a lifetime as a professional entertainer.
“I remember singing onstage at Riverview when I was 10 and winning a pigskin football,” Reed said. “Now when I get the chance, I still tap dance and sing and make a little money here and there.”
The gnome-like Reed sat up with a start as he had missed Benson’s intro to his big number, “All of Me,” which he sings along with regularly.
“Don’t worry, he’ll come back for me,” Reed told Reeves and indeed, when Benson circled back musically, he was ready. A small crowd gathered, the lure of the stores briefly forgotten, as Reed sat in his chair and sang, his tenor voice still strong.
“You took the part that once was my heart, so why not take all of me,” Reed concluded to warm applause. “I’ll give you another song later on,” he promised.
A fast four hours
In the middle of it all was Benson, whose long musical career has included work with orchestras and swing groups, teaching and composing. But he finds perhaps his greatest satisfaction with the mall gig, even though it’s four hours of almost non-stop playing to a not-exactly captive audience.
“That’s really not tough for me,” Benson said during a rare break. “The time goes by quickly, and it’s a great thing to be able to sit and express yourself musically in front of all these people.”
He is careful to point out that his repertoire of standards, contemporary pop and show tunes is not just for the geriatric set.
“It’s not the age of the person that determines if they like this music, it’s their background. If they’re from a family that’s exposed them to this music, the young people like it,” he said. “I always encourage parents to pick [their children] up so they can see inside the piano and I play `Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ for them.”
Delia Greco, 20, and her mother, Filomena, visiting from Windsor, Ontario, were drawn downstairs as the music wafted to the upper floors of the mall.
“We heard him playing a song by Andrea Bocelli that I love,” Greco explained. “I play piano and the flute and I love this kind of music.”
As Benson began to play “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” Schaller hummed along and commented, “We shop first–oh, a lot–and then end up here. We always save the best for last.”
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Robert Benson plays from 2 to 6 p.m. Sundays during the holidays (noon to 5 the rest of the year) at the 900 N. Michigan Shops. www.robertbensonmusic.com.
