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 Tuesday, December 7, 2022, is “Azure.”

About This Song

“Azure” was written by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Irving Mills, in 1937. In his liner notes for Fifty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett, Bennett writes 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 1999 for his album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

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

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Song of the Day: Mood Indigo

The song of the day for Saturday, May 1, 2021, is “Mood Indigo.”

About This Song

Originally titled “Dreamy Blues,” Duke Ellington wrote this song in 1930, which is based on a theme by Barney Bigard, who is said to have learned it from his New Orleans clarinet teacher, Lorenzo Tio. Ellington wrote the song specifically for “microphone transmission” and it was first played on a 1930 radio broadcast. Audiences loved the song, and so Irving Mills wrote the lyric, changing the name of the song to “Mood Indigo.” The song has been widely recorded by instrumental and vocal artists, including Tony Bennett, Charles Mingus, Ella Fitzgerald, Thelonious Monk, Frank Sinatra, and Nat King Cole.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Mood Indigo” in 1999 for his album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. The arrangement by Jorge Calandrelli features Wynton Marsalis on trumpet and Al Grey on trombone.

We hope you have enjoyed Duke Ellington Week on The Year of Tony Bennett. To quote Duke: “We love you madly!”

Mood Indigo

Listen to Mood Indigo on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1999.

“Mood Indigo,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me

The song of the day for Friday, April 30, 2021, is “Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me.”

About This Song

“Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me” was written by Duke Ellington, with lyrics from Bob Russell, in 1940. As with most Ellington songs, the tune was written first and the lyrics added later. Also, as with most Ellington songs, it became a favorite song of both instrumental and vocal musicians. Ellington recorded the song in 1944 and it was a hit on both the R&B and Popular charts. Other recordings include those by Tony Bennett, Louis Armstrong, Sammy Davis, Jr., Anita O’Day, and Nina Simone.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded ” Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me” in 1999 from Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

Do Nothin" Till You Hear From Me

Listen to Do Nothin" Till You Hear From Me on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1999.

“Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from Apple Music.

Here’s Ellington’s 1944 recording of “Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me.”

Do Nothin" "Til You Hear from Me

Listen to Do Nothin" "Til You Hear from Me on Spotify. Duke Ellington · Song · 2018.

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Song of the Day: Sophisticated Lady

The song of the day for Thursday, April 29, 2021, is “Sophisticated Lady.”

About Today

Today marks the 122nd anniversary of the birth of Duke Ellington, born in Washington D.C. on April 29, 1899. His music will never be forgotten and will never be outdated.

About This Song

“Sophisticated Lady” was written by Duke Ellington in 1932, 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 was recorded in 1999 for the album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

Sophisticated Lady

Listen to Sophisticated Lady on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1999.

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

Here’s Ellington’s 1932 instrumental recording.

Sophisticated Lady

Listen to Sophisticated Lady on Spotify. Duke Ellington · Song · 2018.

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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 Tuesday, April 27, 2021, 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. This song 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 this version of “It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” in 1999 for his album dedicated to Duke Ellington, Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, which was released in the centenary year of Ellington’s birth. Ralph Burns wrote the very swinging arrangement.

It Don"t Mean A Thing (If It Ain"t Got That Swing)

Listen to It Don"t Mean A Thing (If It Ain"t Got That Swing) on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1999.

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

There are a lot of fantastic recordings of this song; I’ve narrowed it down to three.

First is Ellington’s original recording, featuring Ivie Anderson on vocals:

It Don"t Mean a Thing (If It Ain"t Got That Swing)

Listen to It Don"t Mean a Thing (If It Ain"t Got That Swing) on Spotify. Duke Ellington · Song · 2018.

Next is Louis Armstrong and Ellington, who got together for The Great Summit in 1961. I love this recording because of Armstrong singing the verse.

It Don"t Mean a Thing (If It Ain"t Got That Swing) - 1990 Remaster

Listen to It Don"t Mean a Thing (If It Ain"t Got That Swing) - 1990 Remaster on Spotify. Louis Armstrong · Song · 2001.

And finally, I just discovered this video of Ella Fitzgerald yesterday and it’s just great!

Ella Fitzgerald - It Don"t Mean a thing (If it ain"t got that swing) [1974]

Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Pass and others performing this Duke Ellington"s and Irving Mills" song in London, in 1974. This live date was recorded at Ronnie Scott"...

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