The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: That Old Black Magic

The song of the day for Thursday, November 18, 2021, is “That Old Black Magic.”

About Today

Today we are remembering the great Johnny Mercer, who wrote the lyrics to today’s song, who was born in Savannah, Georgia on November 18, 1909. You can read more about Mercer and his accomplishments at the website for The Johnny Mercer Foundation which supports songwriting and songwriters as well as several educational initiatives.

About This Song

One of the great songs by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer, “That Old Black Magic” was written in 1942 for the movie Star Spangled Rhythm and first recorded by Glenn Miller. It’s been recorded many times and used in several films, including the 1956 film Bus Stop, where it was sung by Marilyn Monroe.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and The Dave Brubeck Trio recorded “That Old Black Magic” in an improv session after each artist had completed their performances at this concert. In addition to Brubeck on piano, the trio featured Eugene Wright on bass and Joe Morello on drums. The concert was taped and released as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 in 2013.

“That Old Black Magic,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Lullaby of Broadway

The song of the day for Friday, September 3, 2021, is “Lullaby of Broadway.”

About This Song

“Lullaby of Broadway,” written by Harry Warren and Al Dubin, was introduced in the 1935 movie Gold Diggers of 1935 and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. It is one of the great show biz anthems. The 1980 musical 42nd Street featured Jerry Orbach singing the song (which your blogger had the fortune to see him in).

About This Version

At the very end of Bennett’s set, in “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” he welcomes Dave Brubeck back on the stage and then says:

We haven’t rehearsed this, so lots of luck, folks.

Joining Tony Bennett on stage were Dave Brubeck, Eugene Wright on bass, and Joe Morello on drums. Tony Bennett suggests “Lullaby of Broadway” and off they go. Lucky for us, it’s all captured on Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962.

Lullaby Of Broadway (with The Dave Brubeck Trio) - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962

Listen to Lullaby Of Broadway (with The Dave Brubeck Trio) - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Dave Brubeck Trio · 2013

“Lullaby of Broadway,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: That Old Black Magic

The song of the day for Thursday, August 5, 2021, is “That Old Black Magic.”

About Today

I don’t think any list of Tony Bennett’s great recordings would be complete without at least one live recording. For me, no other live recording comes close to “That Old Black Magic,” recorded on the grounds of the Washington Monument on August 28, 1962. Remember that this is a completely improvised performance with the Dave Brubeck Trio, not his regular trio. It’s a triumph, at least for me.

About This Song

“That Old Black Magic” was written in 1942 by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer. One of the great songs by Arlen and Mercer, “That Old Black Magic” was written for the 1942 movie Star Spangled Rhythm. It’s been recorded many times and used in several films, including the 1956 film Bus Stop, where it was sung by Marilyn Monroe.

About This Version

On August 28, 1962, Tony Bennett, with his trio, and the Dave Brubeck Quartet were invited by President Kennedy to perform at a concert for the year’s Presidential Scholars. After they each played their sets, Bennett, Brubeck, Joe Morello (Brubeck’s drummer), and Eugene Wright (Brubeck’s bassist) returned to the stage for a spontaneous improv session of four songs, including today’s song of the day, “That Old Black Magic.” Though the tapes of the concert were lost for many years in the vaults, they were eventually found and released as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962.

That Old Black Magic (with The Dave Brubeck Trio) - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962

Listen to That Old Black Magic (with The Dave Brubeck Trio) - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Dave Brubeck Trio · 2013

“That Old Black Magic,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: That Old Black Magic

The song of the day for Tuesday, February 16, 2021, is “That Old Black Magic.”

About This Song

One of the great songs by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer, “That Old Black Magic” was written in 1942 and first recorded by Glenn Miller. It was also used in the 1942 movie Star Spangled Rhythm. It’s been recorded many times and used in several films, including the 1956 film Bus Stop, where it was sung by Marilyn Monroe.

About This Version

In 1962, Tony Bennett and his trio and The Dave Brubeck Quartet were invited by President John Kennedy to perform in the White House Rose Garden as a thank you to that year’s Presidential Scholars. There was so much interest in the concert that it was moved to the Mall near the Washington Monument. After each artist played their respective sets, Bennett and Brubeck, along with Eugene Wright on bass and Joe Morello on drums returned for a short improv set. One of the songs in that set was “That Old Black Magic.” The concert was recorded, but the tapes had been long since lost. Soon after Brubeck’s death in December 2012, the tapes were found in the classical music archives of Sony/Columbia Records. The album Bennett & Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 was released in April 2013.

That Old Black Magic (with The Dave Brubeck Trio) - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962

Listen to That Old Black Magic (with The Dave Brubeck Trio) - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Dave Brubeck Trio · 2013

“That Old Black Magic,” as well as Bennett & Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: That Old Black Magic

The song of the day for Saturday, January 2, 2020, is “That Old Black Magic.”

The Year of Tony Bennett is honoring bassist Eugene Wright, who died on December 30, 2020 at the age of 97. He was the last surving member of the Dave Brubeck Quartet. When Brubeck asked Wright to join the quartet in 1958, he was warned that his quartet would not be allowed to play in certain venues, especially in the south, as Wright was black. At a Southern college performance, Brubeck was told they could play, but Gene Wright would not be allowed on the stage. Brubeck replied that if Wright couldn’t play, Brubeck wouldn’t play either. Brubeck played that night, with Wright on bass. The Dave Brubeck Quartet was one of the early pioneers in the fight against segregation in the late 1950s and 1960s.

About This Song

One of the great songs by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer, “That Old Black Magic” was written in 1942 and first recorded by Glenn Miller. It was also used in the 1942 movie Star Spangled Rhythm. It’s been recorded many times and used in several films, including the 1956 film Bus Stop, where it was sung by Marilyn Monroe.

About This Version

On August 28, 1962, Tony Bennett, with his trio, and the Dave Brubeck Quartet were invited by President Kennedy to perform at a thank-you concert for that year’s White House college interns. Originally, the concert was to be held in the Rose Garden, but there was so much buzz about the event it was moved to the Sylvan Theatre on Mall, in the shadow of the Washington Monument.

The concert opened with the Dave Brubeck Quartet, featuring Brubeck on piano, Paul Desmond on saxophone, Eugene Wright on bass, and Joe Morello on drums. Then, Tony Bennett sang, with Ralph Sharon on piano, Hal Gaylord on bass, and Billy Exiner on drums.

The musicians then decided to do an impromptu improv session, with Tony Bennett, Dave Brubeck, Eugene Wright, and Joe Morello. Our song of the day, “That Old Black Magic,” comes from that session.

The concert was recorded by Frank Laico, but the tapes soon disappeared and were thought lost. Soon after Brubeck’s death in 2012, however, the tapes were found in the Classical archives at Sony/Columbia Records. The resulting album, Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962, was released in May 2013.

That Old Black Magic (with The Dave Brubeck Trio) - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962

Listen to That Old Black Magic (with The Dave Brubeck Trio) - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Dave Brubeck Trio · 2013

“That Old Black Magic,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962, is available from Apple Music.

Here are Dave Brubeck, Joe Morello, and Eugene Wright in a clip in which Wright has a terrific solo.

The Wright Groove - Dave Brubeck Quartet - BBC Jazz 625 (1964)

The quartet is made up of Brubeck on piano, Paul Desmond on alto saxophone, Eugene Wright on bass, and Joe Morello on drums.