The song of the day for Thursday, March 20, 2025, is “Twilight World.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett is happy and proud to honor the great Marian McPartland on the anniversary of her birth on March 20, 1918. She did it all: jazz pianist, composer, author, and radio presenter. Her Piano Jazz program on NPR was the catalyst that made me a jazz fan.

About This Song

“Twilight World” was composed by Marian McPartland in 1957, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. The tune itself is a lovely mid-tempo ballad, often played in a bossa nova style. The Mercer lyrics 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” on October 1, 1971, for his album With Love, released in 1972. Robert Farnon wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

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

Tony Bennett was McPartland’s guest on Piano Jazz in 1990. We’re very pleased to be able to include that episode in the post.

The song of the day for Wednesday, March 20, 2024, is “Twilight World.”

About Today

Today we remember Marian McPartland, born in Slough, England on March 20, 1918. She was a gifted pianist and composer and is probably best known as the host of Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz on NPR from 1978 to 2011. She died on August 20, 2013, at the age of 95.

McPartland was a synesthete (a phenomenon where the sensory or cognitive pathway leads to involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive partway). McPartland experienced colors when listening to or performing music.

About This Song

“Twilight World” was written by Marian McPartland, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer, in 1957. This ballad has proven to be one of her most enduring and popular songs. The tune 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 a nearly perfect jazz song. Tony Bennett once said “Well, that song will last forever. It’s a beautiful song.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Twilight World” on October 1, 1971, for his album With Love, released in 1972. Robert Farnon wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

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

Tony Bennett appeared on McPartland’s Piano Jazz program twice: once in 1990 and again in 2004. Here’s the 2004 program, courtesy of National Public Radio.