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: Moonglow

The song of the day for Saturday, December 4, 2021, is “Moonglow.”

About This Song

“Moonglow” was written in 1933 by Will Hudson and Irving Mills, with lyrics by Eddie DeLange. The first recordings were by Joe Venuti and His Orchestra, Ethel Waters, and The Benny Goodman Orchestra. Later recordings include those by Billie Holiday and Artie Shaw.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and k.d. lang recorded “Moonglow” on April 12, 1994, on MTV Unplugged. This was the first time they sang together, but certainly not the last. The album MTV Unplugged won the 1994 Grammy Awards for Album of the Year and Best Traditional Pop Performance.

“Moonglow,” as well as MTV Unplugged is available on Apple Music.

Here’s the video of this song’s performance.

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Song of the Day: I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart

The song of the day for Friday, July 23, 2021, is “I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart.”

About This Song

“I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart” was written in 1938 by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Irving Mills, Henry Nemo, and John Redmond. The song was a major hit for Duke Ellington, reaching #1 on the charts. In addition to his own recording that year, other recordings by Benny Goodman and Mildred Bailey were made that year and were extremely popular as well. In 1952 Ellington named this song as one of his eleven favorites.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart” in 1967 for Tony Makes It Happen! The song was arranged and conducted by Marion Evans.

I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart

Listen to I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1967.

“I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart,” as well as Tony Makes It Happen! is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Solitude

The song of the day for Tuesday, June 22, 2021, is “Solitude.”

About This Song

“Solitude” was written in 1934 by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Eddie DeLange and Irving Mills. One of his masterpieces, Ellington is said to have written “Solitude” in twenty minutes at the recording session, as they were one number short (Ted Gioia in Jazz Standards). It’s a very strong song for both vocalists and instrumentalists. Ellington made over a hundred recordings of this song. Other great recordings include those by Paul Robeson, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Billy Eckstine.

About This Version

Tony Bennett first recorded “Solitude” in 1958 for his album with Count Basie: In Person! He performed it at his 1962 Carnegie Hall concert on June 9, 1962. I think this version of “Solitude” is not just Bennett’s finest recording of this song; I think it’s one of the greatest recordings of “Solitude” ever recorded and it’s captured on Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall.

Solitude - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962

Listen to Solitude - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962 on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1962.

“Solitude,” as well as Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall 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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