The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Body and Soul

The song of the day for Saturday, March 30, 2019, is “Body and Soul.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “Body and Soul,” was composed in 1930 by Johnny Green, with 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

Tony Bennett recorded today’s version of “Body and Soul” in 1989 for his autobiographical album Astoria: Portrait Of The Artist, released in 1990. Jorge Calendrelli did the arrangement.

Body and Soul

Body and Soul, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“Body and Soul,” as well as Astoria: Portrait of the Artist, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Our video today is the filming of the recording session with Tony and Amy Winehouse of “Body and Soul” for Duets II. Made in March 2011, it was her last recording. She died from an alcohol overdose in July 2011.

The recording won the 2012 Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

Tony Bennett, Amy Winehouse – Body and Soul (from Duets II: The Great Performances)

Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse’s official music video for ‘Body and Soul’. Click to listen to Tony Bennett on Spotify: http://smarturl.it/TonyBennettSpotify?IQid=TonyBBAS As featured on Duets II.

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Song of the Day: How Do You Keep the Music Playing

The song of the day for Monday, March 25, 2019, is “How Do You Keep the Music Playing.”

About This Song

This song was written for the 1982 movie Best Friends, which starred Burt Reynolds and Goldie Hawn. The song was composed by Michel Legrand and the lyrics are by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. The initial recording was a duet by Patti Austin and James Ingram, which became a hit single in 1983. It was one of three songs with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman that were nominated that year for an Academy Award for Best Song (though the award went to “Up Where We Belong” from the movie An Officer and a Gentleman). The song has become a popular standard and has had many fine recordings, including those by Frank Sinatra (who encouraged Bennett to sing this song), Frankie Laine, Johnny Mathis and Tony Bennett, Tony Bennett and George Michael and, most recently, Tony Bennett and Aretha Franklin.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Aretha Franklin recorded “How Do You Keep the Music Playing” in 2011 for Bennett’s album Duets II. It was arranged by Jorge Calendrelli.

How Do You Keep The Music Playing

How Do You Keep The Music Playing, a song by Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin on Spotify

“How Do You Keep the Music Playing,” as well as Duets II, is available from iTunes.

We’ve also got the video that Tony made with Aretha …

How Do You Keep The Music Playing (from Duets II: The Great Performances)

Music video by Tony Bennett & Aretha Franklin performing How Do You Keep The Music Playing. (C) 2012 Columbia Records, a divison of Sony Music Entertainment

About Today

Today we are remembering the great Aretha Franklin, who was born on March 25, 1942 in Detroit Michigan. Her father was a preacher and she grew up singing gospel music in the church. Miss Franklin released her first secular album in 1961 and her last album, A Brand New Me, in 2017.

Aretha Franklin died at home in Detroit on August 16, 2018, at the age of 76. Her homegoing ceremony was held on August 31, 2018 and was televised live (your author streamed it over her cell phone while at work; it was amazing). She was buried in a pair of five-inch heels, custom-made by Christian Louboutin.

Miss Franklin appeared at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2015, when Carole King was honored. Miss Franklin sang “Natural Woman,” written for Aretha by Carole King. It’s one of greatest performances I’ve ever seen.

Aretha Franklin (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman – Kennedy Center Honors 2015

Full segment of Aretha Franklin (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman – Kennedy Center Honors 2015. Chilina Kennedy, plays Carole King in Beautiful, the musical, introduces Aretha.

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Song of the Day: Mood Indigo

The song of the day for Sunday, March 24, 2019, is “Mood Indigo.”

About This Song

Originally titled “Dreamy Blues,” Ellington wrote this song, 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 lyrics, 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 Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. Jorge Calendrelli arranged and conducted the album.

Mood Indigo

Mood Indigo, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“Mood Indigo,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Azure

The song of the day for Thursday, April 21, 2016 is “Azure.”

About This Song

Duke Ellington wrote “Azure” in 1937; the lyrics by Irving Mills were added later. 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 centenary tribute to Duke Ellington: Tony Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. The arrangement is by Jorge Calandrelli. The very fine pianist is Ralph Sharon.

Azure

Azure, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify


“Azure,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Speak Low

The song of the day for Monday, March 2, 2015 is “Speak Low.”

About This Song

“Speak Low” was written by Kurt Weill and Ogden Nash for the 1943 musical One Touch of Venus, where it was introduced by Mary Martin and Kenny Baker. In addition to several very fine Tony Bennett recordings, “Speak Low” has been widely recorded by jazz and popular performers, including Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Lena Horne.

About This Version

Today, we feature Tony Bennett’s 1989 version from Astoria: Portrait of the Artist. The arrangement is by Jorge Calandrelli and it swings very nicely, especially with the bass walking in the background. This recording, as well as the entire album, features the Ralph Sharon Trio, with Paul Langosch on bass and Joe LaBarbera on drums, with The UK Orchestra Limited.

About Today

Today marks the 115th birthday of Kurt Weill, who composed today’s song. Weill was born on March 2, 1900 in Dessau, Germany. He was the son of a cantor. As a youth, he studied piano and began composing as a young teenager. He studied composition and music theory with Englebert Humperdinck. In the early 1920s, he began his association with Bertolt Brecht, resulting in The Threepenny Opera, with its most well-known song “Mack the Knife.”

In 1933, Weill left Nazi Germany and settled in New York with his wife, the actress Lotte Lenya. His popular works composed in America include One Touch of Venus, Lost in the Stars, Lady in the Dark and Knickerbocker Holiday.

Weill died in 1950, just a month past his 50th birthday.

Speak Low

Speak Low, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify


“Speak Low,” as well as Astoria: Portrait of the Artist, is available from iTunes.

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