The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Tony Bennett on National Public Radio

I think NPR loves Tony Bennett, as they have archived a treasure trove of interviews.  Here are some of my favorites.

This story by Scott Simon, Tony Bennett’s Art of Intimacy, was played on NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday on November 4, 2011 is a favorite of mine. It’s an extended interview that covers his vocal training right after the war, how he addresses singing at the age of 85, and some special words about the people he collaborated  with in Duets II. Good interview, nice clips from the album, and very nicely produced. Click here to listen.

In the same  time period, Tony visited the NPR studios and sang two songs, accompanied by Lee Musiker. Click here to view this small concert.

And an extended interview on World Cafe, also from Fall 2011. The discussion about the end about Tony’s relationship to painting and singing are well worth listening to.  Click here to listen.

He has appeared on Marian McPartland’s wonderful Piano Jazz show. Click here to listen. This show was  recorded in 2004.

And finally, an interesting story about creating a new arrangement of I Left My Heart in San Francisco with Bill Charlap in 2006. Click here to listen.

There’s more on NPR … Just navigate to www.npr.org and search for Tony Bennett. You wont’ be sorry!

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Thank You, Tony Bennett

The fact that I’ve started this blog means that I have a fair amount to say about Tony Bennett. I’ve said some of it already, and there’s a lot more to come.

But it comes down to this–thank you, Tony Bennett.

Thank you for making so many wonderful albums. Thank you for continuing to appear in concert. And for playing the West Coast often enough for me to see you in concert pretty often. Thank you for writing your books. Thank you for everything you mean to those of us who love your art and music.

Thank you for letting us share in that.

– Suzanne

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Central Park

Anthony Benedetto has three paintings hanging in the Smithsonian. His portraits of Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald hang in the National Portrait Gallery. This painting, Central Park, hangs at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in the Renwick Gallery.

A New Yorker at his core, Mr. Benedetto has created many lovely paintings of scenes from Central Park. This oil painting was created in 1998. You can read more about this painting here.

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The Best $5.99 You’ll Ever Spend

If you are a fan of Mr. Bennett’s live performances, I recommend that you download the iTunes Festival: London 2010 EP set of six songs, performed live in London. These recordings do not (as yet) exist on any released album. They are, without a doubt, on the top of my favorite cuts of his. Included on the set is:

  • The Best Is Yet To Come
  • Maybe This Time
  • Sing You Sinners
  • Smile
  • Who Care (So Long As You Care For Me)
  • For Once In My Life

If you’re not already a fan of his live performances, well, you’re missing something wonderful. Again, try this set for $5.99.
Mr. Bennett is accompanied by Lee Musiker (piano), Gray Sargent (guitar), Marshall Wood (bass) and Harold Jones (drums). The quartet is wonderful–on this EP set as well as in the live performances I’ve seen.

This link will take to you the proper location in ITunes. If you already have this, consider gifting it to a friend.

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