The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Respect and Admiration

I’ve been writing a lot on this blog about Mr. Bennett’s music and art. Today I want mention his record as a humanitarian.

As I’ve been reading news stories and learning about Mr. Bennett, I’ve learned that he has a reputation as someone who contributes time and money to worthy causes. The Look to the Stars website lists a few of the organizations he supports. In addition to co-founding Exploring The Arts with his wife Susan Benedetto, he supports the efforts of others who want to reach out and help.

The Year of Tony Bennett contributes a dollar for each follower of this blog to Exploring the Arts, with a minimum of $5o each quarter to that organization.

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July 18 2012

Lost in the Stars

Nelson Mandela was born on this day in 1918. In honor of his birthday, today’s Song of the Day is Lost in the Stars, from the musical of the same name, with music by Kurt Weill and book and lyrics by Maxwell Anderson. Based on Alan Paton’s book Cry The Beloved Country (written in 1948), the musical was produced on Broadway in 1949 and was Mr. Weill’s last work.  Lost in the Stars movingly tells the story of apartheid in South Africa.

Mr. Bennett’s recordings of this song are all wonderful. We feature this song from the album Tony, recorded in 1957. He also sang it beautifully in his 1962 Carnegie Hall concert.

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July 16 2012

The Man That Got Away

Today’s Song of  the Day is one of my favorite songs from the Great American Songbook, The Man That Got Away by Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin. Other than Judy Garland’s untoppable performance of this song in A Star is Born, Tony’s is my favorite version of the song. Originally released on Tony’s masterpiece album Tony Bennett Sings for Two in 1959.

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All The Things You Are

Tony Bennett has  recorded this song only once.

Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall with Ralph Sharon and His Orchestra. Produced by Ernie Altschuler.    

I love this song. I love this arrangement. I love the way Tony Bennett sings this song.

The song has the sensitive lyrics that we have come to associate with Oscar Hammerstein with the sophisticated music of Jerome Kern. A heady combination for me. It’s a lovely tune that I’ve heard many times, but this version knocks me dead in my tracks every time I hear it.

This is the third song in the 1962 Carnegie Hall concert, which opened with Lullaby of Broadway (uptempo, full orchestra), followed by Just In Time (mid-tempo, swingy with with a fun call and response between the brass and reed sections).

And then comes this soft and perfectly phrased ballad. First of all, he sings the verse. One of the many reasons I love to listen to Tony Bennett sing is that he so often sings the verse. In this song, the chorus is even more moving because of the verse. The arrangement supports the singer and let him glide. The song is perfectly phrased and each note is a perfect moment. The performance is personal and intimate. The listener can feel the audience collectively holding its breath. As do I when I listen.

A beautiful song. You can listen to it here. The guitar work by Kenny Burrell is lovely.

Wikipedia has a very good article about this song.

All The Things You Are

This song was written in 1939 for the musical Very Warm for May.
Music: Jerome Kern
Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II

Time and again I longed for adventure,
Something to make my heart beat the faster.
What did I long for? I never really knew.
Finding your love I found my adventure,
Touching your hand, my heart beats the faster,
All that I want in all of this world is

You are the promised kiss of springtime
That makes the lonely winter seem long.
You are the breathless hush of evening
That lingers on the brink of a lovely song.
You are the angel glow that lights a star,
The dearest things I know are what you are.
Some day my happy arms will hold you,
And some day I’ll know that moment divine,
When all the things you are, are mine!