The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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I am saddened to learn that Tony Bennett has Alzheimer’s Disease. His family made the announcement today. CBS did this story

Tony Bennett is battling Alzheimer’s disease, but singing “is saving him,” his wife says

The family of 18-time Grammy winner Tony Bennett is opening up about a secret they’ve kept for more than four years. In an article Monday morning in AARP The Magazine, they reveal Bennett is battling Alzheimer’s disease, which robs people of their memories and cognitive functions.

This AARP Magazine story broke the news and is well worth your time to read.

Tony Bennett’s Battle With Alzheimer’s Disease

Neuroscience even today cannot explain how a man whose speaking voice has become so hesitant – whose memory of events, people and places has largely vanished – can, at the sound of a musical cue, lift his voice in song with such beauty and expression, except to say that music and singing emerge, as Levitin has pointed out, from areas of the brain quite distinct from those associated with speech and language.

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Song of the Day: Taking a Chance on Love

The song of the day for Wednesday, August 21, 2019, is “Taking a Chance on Love.”

About Today

Today we are celebrating the life and music of William James Basie, who was born in Red Bank, New Jersey, on August 21, 1904. In addition to his fine work on the piano, Count Basie was one of best and longest-lasting big band leaders. He founded the Count Basie Orchestra in 1935 and that orchestra is still playing today. Some of America’s finest jazz musicians played with Basie, including Buck Clayton, Lester Young, Thad Jones, Jo J0nes, Buddy Rich, and Paul Gonsalves are just a few of former members of the Count Basie Orchestra. Harold Jones, called Count Basie’s favorite drummer, currently plays in Tony Bennett’s quartet.

About This Song

“Taking a Chance on Love” was written by Vernon Duke, with lyrics by John LaTouche and Ted Fetter, for the 1940 BRoadway musical Cabin in the Sky, where it was introduced by the great Ethel Waters and Dooley Wilson. The song works well for both jazz singers and instrumentalists, with significant recordings by Dave Brubeck, Tony Bennett, Judy Garland, and Dizzy Gillespie.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Taking a Chance on Love” in 1958 for his second album with Count Basie and His Orchestra, In Person!, released in 1959. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

Taking A Chance On Love

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“Taking a Chance on Love,” as well as In Person!, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: We’ll Be Together Again

The song of the day for Friday, August 16, 2019, is “We’ll Be Together Again.”

Pianist Bill Evans was born on August 16, 1929, 90 years ago. I wish he was still with us.

Today and for the next few days, we’ll be playing songs recorded by Tony Bennett and Bill Evans in 1975 for The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album and in 1976 for Together Again.

About This Song

“We’ll Be Together Again” was written in 1945 by Carl T. Fischer and singer Frankie Laine. Fischer was Frankie Laine’s pianist and musical director. Fischer asked Laine to write the lyrics, which he, quite nicely. In addition to the recording by Tony Bennett and Bill Evans, this song has been recorded by Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra and, of course, Frankie Laine.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “We’ll Be Together Again” in June 1975 in Berkeley, California at Fantasy Records, Evans’s label. It was released in 1975 on their first album The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album.

We’ll Be Together Again

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“We’ll Be Together Again,” as well as The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, is available from iTunes.

In honor of Bill’s birthday, I’d like to present his solo recording of the theme from film The Bad and the Beautiful, which was released on Together Again. During a break, Evans was working on this song and Tony loved it so much that he insisted that it be recorded and released on their second album. I’m very glad he did.

The Bad And The Beautiful

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