The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: The Christmas Waltz

On the 11th day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas, the song of the day for Thursday, December 24, 2020, is “The Christmas Waltz.”

About This Song

“A Christmas Waltz” was written in 1954 by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn. They wrote it for Frank Sinatra, who recorded it on the B-side with “White Christmas.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “A Christmas Waltz” for his 2008 album A Swingin’ Christmas. Playing with him are his quartet: Monte Alexander (piano), Gray Sargent (guitar), Paul Langosch (bass), and Harold Jones (drums).

The Christmas Waltz

Listen to The Christmas Waltz on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2008.

“The Christmas Waltz,” as well as A Swingin’ Christmas, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

On the sixth day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas, the song of the day for is “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

About This Song

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” was written by Hugh Martin for the 1944 film Meet Me In St. Louis, where it was sung by Judy Garland to Margaret O’Brien. In a Twitter conversation in November 2012, Tony Bennett said that “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” is his favorite Christmas song. It’s mine too.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” in 2004 for his 2008 album A Swingin’ Christmas. Mr. Bennett is accompanied by his quartet, featuring Lee Musiker on piano, Gray Sargent on guitar, Paul Langosch on bass, and Harold Jones on drums. It’s a wonderful arrangement.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Listen to Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2008.

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” as well as A Swingin’ Christmas, is available from Apple Music.

Here’s the lovely scene from Meet Me In St. Louis

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Song of the Day: But Beautiful

The song of the day for Friday, June 8, 2018 is “But Beautiful.”

About This Song

This song was written by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke for Bing Crosby to sing in the 1947 movie The Road to Rio. The song has been widely recorded, including recordings by Bill Evans, Johnny Hartman, Billie Holiday, Gregory Porter, Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole.

About This Version

I love this song and have featured it often and always feature the recording that Tony Bennett made with Bill Evans in 1975 for The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album. Today I’m very pleased to feature the very lovely duet of “But Beautiful” that Mr. Bennett made with Lady Gaga in 2014 for their album Cheek to Cheek.

But Beautiful

But Beautiful, a song by Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga on Spotify


“But Beautiful,” as well as Cheek to Cheek, is available from iTunes.

I know it’s not Saturday, but this video of Tony and Lady Gaga is just too beautiful to pass up.

About Today

I so happy to hear Tony Bennett sing “But Beautiful” Wednesday night at his concert in Portland, with the brilliant guitar work of Gray Sargent. I had the great honor of getting to meet and have conversations with all four members of the quartet: Ton Ranier, Gray Sargent, Marshall Wood and Harold Jones. I have so much admiration for the work of this quartet and meeting them was so special. I also got to meet the jazz singer Donna Byrne, who opened for Tony Bennett on Wednesday. She’s a hell of a singer and a warm and nice person. Do check out her website–from the Music link on the menu, you can hear her wonderful voice. I particularly like “He Was Too Good To Me.”

My sincere thanks to Gray, Harold, Tom, Marshall and Donna for their warmth and kindness towards this blogger.

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The Tony Bennett Quartet

I can’t say enough about what a fine group of musicians comprise this quartet. They are all supremely talented, both as individuals and as a close, tight-knit group.

They will be performing at a local jazz club in Methuen, Massachusetts on April 10, along with singer Donna Byrne. I wish I could be there. If you live in the greater Boston area, you might want to head to Methuen on the 10th.

Tony Bennett Quartet (sans Tony) bound for Jocko’s Jazz in Methuen

It’s a rare bird. A first. The Tony Bennett Quartet will play a show without Bennett. On April 10 in Methuen, they’ll take the cabaret stage at Jocko’s Jazz, a Tuesday night staple for more than a decade at The Sahara Club and Restaurant.

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Happy Birthday Harold Jones

The Year of Tony Bennett bloggers would like to wish drummer Harold Jones a very happy birthday!

Harold Jones was Count Basie’s favorite drummer and he’s our favorite drummer too. He has been playing for Tony Bennett since 2006. He also spends a lot of his free time doing drumming workshops and playing with his own band, The Bossmen, in California.

You can read more about Mr. Jones at drummerworld.com. We also enjoyed this interview with Harold from 2012.

Here’s a video of Harold Jones playing with Count Basie in 1968:

p.s. Hope you, Tony and rest of the quartet will be visiting us in Portland, Oregon or Seattle this year. We miss you!

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