The album of the week starting on January 16, 2022, is The Beat of My Heart.
The Beat of My Heart was conceived and planned by Tony Bennett and his new musical director, Ralph Sharon. Bennett wanted to return to his jazz roots with this, his third LP. Bennett relates stories about this album in his autobiography, The Good Life:
Ralph and I wanted to make a jazz statement in a big way, and I came up with the idea of recording an album of standards that put the spotlight on different kinds of rhythm by using all the great jazz drummers I could find. We talked the concept over during our first few months on the road, and gradually it all came together. The first recording date was in June 1957, with Chico Hamilton. I was delighted with the results, particularly with the tongue-twisting. super-percussive title track, “The Beat of My Heart.” Mitch came to the first recording date, but was unusually quiet. Maybe he hoped he was giving us enough rope to hang ourselves. But when the album came out, an army of jazz fans said, Hey, this guy knows how to swing. A whole new audience accepted me—in fact, I still get my biggest reactions at jazz festivals the world over.
Album Facts
| Release Date | December 1, 1957 |
| Label | Columbia (CL-1079) |
| Producers | Mitch Miller, Al Ham |
| Vocals | Tony Bennett |
| Arrangements | Ralph Sharon, Tony Bennett |
| Piano | Ralph Sharon |
| Percussion | Art Blakey, Chico Hamilton, Jo Jones, Candido Camero, Sabu Martinez, Billy Exiner |
| Tenor Sax | Al Cohn |
| Trumpet | Nat Adderly |
| Trombone | Robert Alexander, Jim Dahl, Kai Winding |
| Flute | Herbie Mann, Spencer Sinatra, William Slapin |
| Vibes | Eddie Costa |
| Guitar | John Pisano |
| Bass | Milt Hinton, Eddie Saranski, James Bond |
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