Sting routinely sings his hits – until his fiddler breaks out...

The old Sting is back with all his hits. At the Montreux Jazz Festival concert, however, he's taking it a bit too easy. There was only one surprise in Sting's hit machine.

He's interpreted medieval lute music, toured the world with his old colleagues from the Police, and wrapped his hits in symphonic string clouds. Sting can afford to shape his career solely according to the pleasure principle. Nevertheless: We've missed the old Sting a bit.

What now? The new album "The Last Ship" will be released in the fall. Will he give us a preview of his new program? Will he give us some tastes? New band? Exclusively for Montreux?

The good news: The soon-to-be 62-year-old presented himself to the audience in enviable top physical shape and in great spirits. The old Sting is back, and with him the old band, the old songs, the old arrangements. They were all there again: the elegant string player Dominic Miller, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, that master of odd meters, David Sancious, the sought-after studio keyboardist with a jazz background, and Sting himself, back on bass.

Together, they played their way through the star's catalogue. Everything was just right. The top musicians played impeccably, but also with great skill. The only newcomers were jazz singer Jo Lawry, Peter Tickell (mandolin, violin), and a replaceable saxophonist who was allowed to make a few appearances. At first, none of them were able to make any impact. Sting's hit machine ran like clockwork – without any surprises or particularly unusual elements.

But suddenly, fiddle player Peter Tickell plucked up the courage and broke through the perfectly constructed wall of sound with a solo, emotional outburst. The audience went wild... so it was possible after all.

Second surprise: Sting abruptly switched to a jam session during the aging Police song "De Do Do Do." Sancious at least showed some character, Colaiuta amazed – and then that fiddle player again: He crowned the concert with a long, fiery solo. Peter Tickell – that's a name you have to remember. Only Dominic Miller, after years with Sting, is still waiting for his first proper guitar solo.

After almost two hours, the hit revue was over. The audience loved it. But compared to Prince, who presented three different programs over three days in Montreux, Sting made it very easy for himself. Farewell to a new program from the old Sting! And how about a fresh start with some new musicians? The man on the fiddle can stay.

(c) Grenchner Tagblatt by Stefan Künzli