The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Azure

The song of the day for Wednesday, November 6, 2024, is “Azure.”

About This Song

“Azure” was written in 1937 by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Irving Mills. In his liner notes for Fifty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett, Bennett wrote of “Azure” that “the composition of this song is the absolute pinnacle of inventiveness and originality as it relates to the art of music composition.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Azure,” in May 1999 for Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, released in Ellington’s centennial. year. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool won the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Performance.

“Azure,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s “Azure,” recorded in 1937 by Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra.

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Song of the Day: Day Dream

The song of the day for Thursday, August 22, 2024, is “Day Dream.”

About This Song

“Day Dream” was written in 1941 by Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington, with lyrics by John LaTouche. Acknowledged to have been written solely by Strayhorn, “Day Dream” is a lovely song with a strong Strayhorn touch, enhanced by the thoughtful lyrics by LaTouche. The first recording was in 1941 and featured Johnny Hodges on saxophone and Billy Strayhorn on piano. Other notable recordings include this recording by Tony Bennett, Betty Carter, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sarah Vaughan.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Day Dream” in May 1999 for his album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, released in 1999 for the centennial celebration of Duke Ellington’s birth. The song was arranged by Jorge Calandrelli.

“Day Dream,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available on Apple Music.

Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool won the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Performane.

Here’s the original recording with Johnny Hodges and Billy Strayhorn on piano:

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Song of the Day: Sophisticated Lady

The song of the day for Monday, August 5, 2024, is “Sophisticated Lady.”

About This Song

“Sophisticated Lady” was written in 1932 by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Irving Mills and Mitchell Parish. Ellington is said to have been inspired to write this song by two of his grade school teachers, who toured Europe in the summers after teaching all year. “To me that spelled sophistication.” “Sophisticated Lady” was first recorded in 1933 on the flip side with Harold Arlen’s Stormy Weather. It is, of course, one of Ellington’s most popular and often-played songs. In addition to numerous recordings by Ellington over the years, the song has been recorded by Art Tatum, Anita O’Day, Billie Holiday, Billy Eckstine, Johnny Hodges, Sarah Vaughan, and Glenn Miller.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Sophisticated Lady” in May 1999 for his album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. The recording features Joel Smirnoff on violin. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

em>Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool won the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Performance.

“Sophisticated Lady,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s a live recording of “Sophisticated Lady: from Ellington’s performance at the 1956 Newport Jazz Festival (where he brought down the house with the extraordinary 14 minute rendition of “Dimenuendo In Blue” which I’m also including):

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Song of the Day: It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)

The song of the day for Sunday, May 19, 2024, is “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing).”

About This Song

Duke Ellington wrote “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” in 1931, with lyrics by Irving Mills. It was one of the first songs to use the word “swing” in the title and this song certainly defined what it meant to swing. Ellington recorded the song with Ivie Anderson on vocals and it was an immediate hit. It has been widely recorded since it was written and the song is a lot of fun to play and to listen to. Significant recordings include those by Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt, Gigi Gryce, Tony Bennett, and Thelonious Monk.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” in May 1999 for his centennial tribute to Duke Ellington: Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, featuring a very fine arrangement by Ralph Burns.

“It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing),” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s the original recording with Ivie Anderson:

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Song of the Day: In A Mellow Tone

The song of the day for Wednesday, May 8, 2024, is “In A Mellow Tone.”

About This Song

Duke Ellington wrote “In a Mellow Tone” in 1939, with lyrics by Milt Gabler. The song was based on the 1917 song “Rose Room” by Art Hickman and Harry Williams. The song is a favorite of both vocal and instrumental jazz performers, including Tony Bennett, Paul Gonsalves, Oscar Peterson, Coleman Hawkins, Ella Fitzgerald, and Annie Ross.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “In A Mellow Tone” in May 1999 for Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, featuring an arrangement by Ralph Burns. In addition to lovely vocals from Bennett, this recording gives the trio members (Ralph Sharon on piano, Paul Langosch on bass, and Clayton Cameron on drums) some terrific solo time.

“In A Mellow Tone,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available on Apple Music.

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