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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

December 5, 2012 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Dave Brubeck

The Year of Tony Bennett is sad to announce that Dave Brubeck, one of America’s jazz artists, passed away on December 5, 2012, just one day shy of his 92nd birthday.

Dave Brubeck was born on December 6, 1920 in Concord, California. His mother was a pianist, and he studied piano as a youth. He entered college as a veterinary student, but his professors there convinced him that his path was in music. He graduated with a degree in music, even after it was discovered that he could not read music.

Upon his graduation in 1942, Brubeck was drafted and served in Patton’s Third Army during World War II. He formed one of the first racially integrated Army bands, The Wolfpack, which performed for soldiers during the war. It was there he met Paul Desmond, with whom his career would always be linked.

After the war, Brubeck studied with Darius Milhaus at Mills College in Oakland, California. He helped establish Fantasy Records in Berkeley, California (the 1975 Tony Bennett Bill Evans Album was released on the Fantasy label). He formed the Dave Brubeck Octet and began to build his reputation as a jazz pianist.

In 1951, he founded the Dave Brubeck Quartet, with Paul Desmond on saxophone. In 1956, the drummer Joe Morello joined the Quartet, which helped advance the advanced rhythmic experimentation that they later became known for. In 1959, they released Time Out, which featured songs that are well-known today: Take Five and Blue Rondo a la Turk. The Quartet remained successful until they disbanded in 1967.

In the period following the Dave Brubeck Quartet era, Mr. Brubeck turned to composing longer orchestral and choral works, as well spending some well-earned time with his family. Four of his six children are professional musicians.

Mr. Brubeck received many honors in his lifetime, including:

  • 1954 – Time Magazine Man of the Year
  • 1994 – National Medal of Arts, National Endowment for the Arts
  • 1994 – Downbeat Hall of Fame
  • 1996 – Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
  • 2007 – BBC Jazz Lifetime Achievement Award
  • 2008 – Benjamin Franklin Award for Public Diplomacy by the US State Department
  • 2008 – Kennedy Center Honoree
  • 2008 – Inducted into the California Hall of Fame
  • 2010 – Miles Davis Award

Mr. Brubeck is survived by his wife Iola, his sons Darius, Chris, Dave, and Matthew (his son Michael pre-deceased his father), his daughter Catherine, 10 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

An obituary, written by Ben Ratliff,  has been posted on the New York Times.

We present this video of Mr. Bennett performing That Old Black Magic with Dave Brubeck in 2011 at Newport Jazz.

Filed Under: Other News Tagged With: Dave Brubeck

November 16, 2012 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Congratulations to Juanes and Juan Luis Guerra

The Year of Tony Bennett wants to congratulate Juanes and Juan Luis Guerra, both Tony Bennett collaborators, for their 2012 Latin Grammy awards.

Juanes’ MTV Unplugged won the Latin Grammy for Album of The Year. MTV Unplugged was produced by Juan Luis Guerra, who won the award for Producer of the Year.

Juanes appeared on Tony Bennett Duets – American Classic, where they sang The Shadow of Your Smile.

Juan Luis Guerra and Mr. Bennett sang Just In Time for the recently released Viva Duets.

Congratulations to both of these wonderful artists!

Filed Under: About His Collaborators, Other News Tagged With: 2012 Latin Grammys, Duets I, Juan Luis Guerra, Juanes, Viva Duets

October 31, 2012 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

California Here He Comes

Mr. Bennett is in California this weekend.

First was a trip today, October 31, to San Francisco, for the San Francisco Giants World Series parade.  At every home game when the Giants win, the public address system plays a recording of Mr. Bennett singing I Left My Heart In San Francisco. As the Giants won the series while still in Detroit, Mr. Bennett came to the victory parade to sing it in person.

https://twitter.com/itstonybennett/status/263766329369178112
https://twitter.com/SFGiants/status/263761109826301952
https://twitter.com/itstonybennett/status/263792751802454016
Even his dog Happy is a fan!

https://twitter.com/itstonybennett/status/263766647414853633

Next on Friday, November 2, is the showing of The Zen Of Bennett at the Landmark Theater in Los Angeles. Mr. Bennett will be participating in a Q&A session after the 7:00 show and introducing the 9:15 show. Click here for more information.

Finally, on Saturday, November 3, Mr. Bennett will be appearing at the prestigious Breeder’s Cup World Championships and will sing The Best Is Yet To Come.

Filed Under: Other News Tagged With: Breeder's Cup, Happy, Landmark Theater, San Francisco Giants, The Zen of Bennett

October 30, 2012 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Jazz With Lady Gaga!

There aren’t enough words to express my joy about this project. Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, and Marion Evans?  Amazing.

To whet our appetites, here’s an article from Billboard.

Filed Under: Other News Tagged With: jazz album, Lady Gaga, Marion Evans

October 14, 2012 By Suzanne 2 Comments

Tony Bennett at the First Game of the National League Championship Series

Mr. Bennett may have left his heart there. I’m trying to figure out where the Giant left their bats.

Updated: Video of God Bless America now included.

https://twitter.com/itstonybennett/status/257591029035843584
https://twitter.com/itstonybennett/status/257644670425903104

Looks like fun … are you singing at the 7th Inning Stretch?

Now, if my beloved Giants can just score a few runs.

He was just great!
https://twitter.com/itstonybennett/status/257680252887769088
https://twitter.com/SFGiants/status/257675533423366144
 

Filed Under: Other News Tagged With: God Bless America, San Francisco Giants

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