The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Dat Dere

The song of the day for Tuesday, November 28, 2017 is “Dat Dere.”

About This Song

The jazz instrumental “Dat Dere” was written in 1960 by Bobby Timmons; it was first played by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers in 1960, with Timmons on piano. Oscar Brown, Jr. wrote lyrics for the tune in 1961 for his album Sin & Soul … and Then Some. The song has been recorded by jazz and popular singers including Mel Tormé and Rickie Lee Jones.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Dat Dere” in 1998 for his delightful album for children, The Playground. Playing with Bennett is the Ralph Sharon Quartet, with Gray Sargent on guitar, Paul Langosch on bass and Clayton Cameron on drums.

Dat Dere

Listen to Dat Dere on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1998


“Dat Dere,” as well as The Playground, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: The Girl I Love

The song of the day for Wednesday, September 27, 2017 is “The Girl I Love.”

About This Song

Written by George and Ira Gershwin, “The Girl I Love” was originally slated for the 1924 Broadway musical Lady, Be Good, though it was cut from that production. It was used again in 1927 for Strike Up The Band, but that production closed out of town. The lyrics were revised to “The Man I Love” for the 1928 Rosalie, but was cut from that production as well. In spite of all that, it rightly has its place as one of the great songs in the American Songbook. Notable recordings include those by Ella Fitzgerald, Helen Forrest, Benny Goodman, Coleman Hawkins, Helen Morgan and many, many more.

About This Version

Today I’m featuring Mr. Bennett’s recording of “The Girl I Love” from his 1994 MTV Unplugged concert, accompanied by the Ralph Sharon Trio, with Doug Richeson on bass and Clayton Cameron on drums.

The Girl I Love - Live Version

Listen to The Girl I Love - Live Version on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1994


“The Girl I Love,” as well as MTV Unplugged, is available from iTunes. The arrangement by Ralph Sharon gives each of the musicians a nice chance to solo.

This cut shows, I think, why this album resounded with a whole new generation of Tony Bennett fans and won two major Grammy Awards: Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance and Album of the Year.

About Today

Sorry to have missed yesterday’s post. I had a bad case of computer gremlins, which are now fixed. But I missed featuring a George Gershwin song on the anniversary of his birth on September 26, 1898. Here we are some 80 years after his death, and his songs sound so fresh, so current. To quote a Cy Coleman song: “It amazes me.”

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Song of the Day: That Old Devil Moon

The song of the day for Monday, September 25, 2017 is “That Old Devil Moon.”

About This Song

“Old Devil Moon” was written for the 1947 musical Finian’s Rainbow by Burton Lane and Yip Harburg, which also gave us “How Are Things in Glocca Morra?” While Alec Wilder was no fan of “How Are Things in Glocca Morra?”, in America Popular Song, he praises “Old Devil Moon” as “a well-written, wholly convincing song. It drives, and its initial intensity is sustained throughout.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett kicked off his 1994 MTV Unplugged television performance with “Old Devil Moon,” with the Ralph Sharon Trio, which featured Doug Richeson on bass and Clayton Cameron on drums.

Old Devil Moon - Live

Listen to Old Devil Moon - Live on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1994


“Old Devil Moon,” as well as MTV Unplugged, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Body and Soul

The song of the day for Saturday, September 9, 2017 is “Body and Soul.”

About This Song

“Body and Soul” was written in 1930, with music by Johnny Green and lyrics by Edward Heyman, Robert Sour, and Frank Eyton.

Ted Gioia, in his book The Jazz Standards, says that:

(Body and Soul) is the granddaddy of jazz ballads, the quintessential torch song, and the ultimate measuring rod for tenor sax players of all generations. Even in the new millennium, this 1930 composition continues to serve as the cornerstone of the repertoire.

Louis Armstrong recorded the song first, followed in the 1930s by recordings from primarily white society bands, such as those led by Paul Whiteman. That said, some early recordings by jazz artists including Benny Goodman and especially Art Tatum started to cement this song as a serious jazz standard (in fact, it’s rated #1 on the jazzstandards.com website). However, the Coleman Hawkins recording from 1939 is widely acknowledged to have made the song a true jazz standard. The Hawkins recording was followed by great jazz recordings by Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Art Pepper, Dave Brubeck and many more. Fine vocal recordings include those by Billie Holiday and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Today I’m featuring the beautiful (and Grammy-winning) 2011 version from Duets II with Amy Winehouse.

Body and Soul

Listen to Body and Soul on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Amy Winehouse · 2011


“Body and Soul,” as well as Duets II, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Speaking of Grammy Awards, Tony Bennett’s 1994 MTV Unplugged won the coveted Grammy for Album of the Year. Here’s Mr. Bennett singing “Body and Soul” from that concert, with Ralph Sharon on piano, Doug Richeson on bass and Clayton Cameron on drums.

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Song of the Day: In A Mellow Tone

The song of the day for Friday, February 3, 2017 is “In A Mellow Tone.”

About This Song

“In A Mellow Tone” was written by Duke Ellington, with lyrics from Milt Gabler, was written in 1939. This 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 1999 for his album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, which was released on the centennial birthday of the great Duke Ellington. This recording was arranged and conducted by Ralph Burns. It features the Ralph Sharon Quartet, with Sharon on piano, Paul Langosch on bass, Clayton Cameron on drums, and Gray Sargent on guitar. I especially like the opening of the song, which starts with just the singer and guitar, then piano and then the rest of the quartet. It’s a lovely beginning. Listen how the song grows throughout to finally bring in the band. Sargent’s guitar is outstanding on this recording.

In A Mellow Tone

Tony Bennett · Bennett Sings Ellington / Hot And Cool · Song · 1999


“In A Mellow Tone,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from iTunes.