The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Mood Indigo

The song of the day for Tuesday, April 29, 2025, is “Mood Indigo.”

About Today

We are remembering Edward Kennedy Ellington on the anniversary of his birth in Washington, D.C. 126 years ago today on April 29, 1899. We’ll be playing songs by Duke Ellington for the next few days.

About This Song

“Mood Indigo” was written in 1930 by Duke Ellington; Irving Mills wrote the lyrics. The song 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 May 1999 for his album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot And Cool, which was released in 1999 for Ellington’s centennial. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement. Wynton Marsalis played trumpet for this recording.

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

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

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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 Friday, March 7, 2025, is “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing).”

About This Song

“It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” was written in 1931 by Duke Ellington, with lyrics credited to 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 album Bennett Sings Ellington Hot & Cool. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement and conducted the band. The extended drum solo is by Clayton Cameron.

“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 of “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” with Ivie Anderson singing with Ellington’s band.

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Song of the Day: Caravan

The song of the day for Monday, January 6, 2025, is “Caravan.”

About This Song

Duke Ellington and Juan Tizol wrote “Caravan” in 1936, with lyrics by Irving Mills. “Caravan” is one of the most popular Duke Ellington songs and has been recorded steadily over the years. In The Jazz Standards, Al Gioia attributes its popularity as a jazz song due to “the composition’s adaptability to a modernistic, modal-based approach.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Caravan” on March 16, 1962, for his album On The Glory Road, which was due to be released in 1962 but was pulled at the last moment. Thankfully, the album was released in the 2011 Complete Collection boxed set and is now available on streaming services. “Caravan” was arranged and conducted by Ralph Sharon, featuring Chico Hamilton and Jo Jones on percussion.

“Caravan,” as well as On The Glory Road, is available from Apple Music.

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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: Prelude to a Kiss

The song of the day for Friday, October 18, 2024, is “Prelude to a Kiss.”

About This Song

“Prelude to a Kiss” was written in 1938 by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Irving Gordon and Irving Mills. At a time when swing music was popular, Ellington wrote this more ambitious and experimental ballad.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Prelude to a Kiss” in May 1999 for Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement. Joel Smirnoff is the featured violinist.

“Prelude to a Kiss,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Ellington’s instrumental recording of “Prelude to a Kiss” from 1938: