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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

March 19, 2022 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Twilight World

The song of the day for Sunday, March 20, 2022, is “Twilight World.”

About Today

We are very pleased to honor Marian McPartland on the anniversary of her birth on March 20, 1918, in Slough, United Kingdom. She was a noted pianist, composer, and writer. Her NPR series, Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz, ran from 1978 to 2011 and introducted jazz to much of America.

About This Song

“Twilight World” was written by Marian McPartland, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer in 1957. This ballad by Marian McPartland has proven to be one of her most enduring and popular songs. The tune itself is a lovely mid-tempo ballad, often played in a bossa nova style. The lyrics by Johnny Mercer are quite good, and the combination makes for nearly perfect jazz song. Tony Bennett said “well, that song will last forever. It’s a beautiful song.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Twilight World” in 1971; the recording was released on the album With Love in 1972. Robert Farnon wrote the arrangement

“Twilight World,” as well as With Love is available on Apple Music.

We are happy to present the 1990 episode of Piano Jazz with Tony Bennett as guest. It’s really lovely.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Happy Birthday Marian McPartland, Johnny Mercer, Marian McPartland, Robert Farnon, Tony Bennett, With Love

March 19, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Twilight World

The song of the day for Saturday, March 20, 2021, is “Twilight World.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett is honoring pianist Marian McPartland on the anniversary of her birth on March 20, 1918, in Slough, England. She showed remarkable aptitude on the piano from an early age and received a musical education as a girl. She studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. But she yearned to play jazz piano and in 1938 left school to join a four-piano vaudeville act, followed by other engagements. When World War II started, she volunteered for the Entertainment National Service Association and played for Allied troops, and later hired on with the USO. She was assigned to a group called the Band Wagon and played throughout the war. In 1944, she met a soldier-cornetist from Chicago named Jimmy McPartland and they were soon wed.

By 1946, the couple was back in the United States, where Jimmy formed a group including Marian on piano. In 1952, she got a gig at the Hickory House in New York, where she played with her trio (Joe Morello on drums and Bill Crow on bass) until the early 1960s. A frequent visitor to the club was Duke Ellington, who told her that she played too many notes and she definitely took his advice.

Many Americans know Marian McPartland from her wildly successful and award-winning public radio program called Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz (which your author seldom missed) from 1979 to 2011.

Tony Bennett was a guest on the show in 1990:

In addition to her career as a jazz pianist, she was also a noted writer. Her book All In Good Time is a favorite of mine, especially the audio version, narrated by the author.

McPartland remained active until her death from natural causes on August 20, 2013, at the age of 95.

About This Song

Marian McPartland wrote “Twilight World” in 1957, with lyrics from Johnny Mercer. This ballad has proven to be one of her most enduring and popular songs. The tune itself is a lovely mid-tempo ballad, sometimes played in a bossa nova style. The lyrics by Johnny Mercer are quite good, and the combination makes for a nearly perfect jazz song. Tony Bennett said “well, that song will last forever. It’s a beautiful song.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Twilight World” in 1971 for his album With Love, featuring an arrangement by Robert Farnon.

Twilight World

Listen to Twilight World on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1972.

“Twilight World,” as well as With Love, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Happy Birthday Marian McPartland, Johnny Mercer, Marian McPartland, Tony Bennett, With Love

September 7, 2016 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: ‘S Wonderful

The song of the day for Thursday, September 8, 2016 is “‘S Wonderful.”

About This Song

The Gershwin Brothers wrote “‘S Wonderful” for the 1927 musical Funny Face, where it was introduced by Adele Astaire (Fred’s sister) and Allen Kearns.

About This Version

Today’s recording is a live recording from 1977 featuring Marian and Jimmy McPartland and the rest or their group. Mr. Bennett joins in at the end. It was originally released on Tony Bennett, The McPartlands and Friends Make Magnificent Music and is now available on the box set The Complete Improv Recordings.

"S Wonderful - Live

Listen to "S Wonderful - Live on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2004.


“‘S Wonderful,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Funny Face, George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Jimmy McPartland, Marian McPartland

August 21, 2013 By Suzanne 2 Comments

RIP Marian McPartland

The Year of Tony Bennett joins jazz fans everywhere in mourning the passing of one of the greats: Marian McPartland.

She did it all: masterful pianist, composer, entertainer, educator, author and host of the impeccable NPR program Piano Jazz. After a detour to rock music in college, Marian’s program on NPR brought me back into the fold of jazz music and I never left again. She made jazz relevant to new generations of fans with Piano Jazz; we all owe her our gratitude.

Tony Bennett and Marian McPartland

In memory of Marian, we include this link to her session with Tony Bennett on Piano Jazz.

Updated

Links to some of the many obituaries that have been written for Marian:

New York Times

National Public Radio

Los Angeles Times

Chicago Tribune 

The London Guardian

Washington Post

Voice of America

The Atlantic Monthly

 

Filed Under: About His Collaborators Tagged With: Marian McPartland

November 29, 2012 By Suzanne 2 Comments

Tony Bennett and Piano Jazz


Tony Bennett’s 2004 visit to Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz was replayed this week. If you haven’t heard this episode of this very fine program, you can listen to it here.

I’ve been listening to audio version of Marian McPartland’s book, All In Good Time. Ms. McPartland reads her own book, which makes it even more special. The book is available from Audible.

Filed Under: Media Tagged With: All In Good Time, Marian McPartland, NPR, Piano Jazz

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