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 Wednesday, May 22, 2013, is That Old Black Magic.

About This Song

Written by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Johnny Mercer, That Old Black Magic was written in 1942 and used in the 1943 film Star Spangled Rhythm, where it was introduced by Vera Zorina and Johnnie Johnston.

This song has been very popular since it was first written, starting with the 1942 version by the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Other significant recordings are by Margaret Whiting, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra. Marilyn Monroe sang the song in the 1956 Bus Stop.

About This Version

Bennett:Brubeck

Today’s version is from upcoming release of em>Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962, which will be available on May 28, 2013. The concert began with a set by the Dave Brubeck Quartet (Brubeck, Paul Desmond on alto sax, Joe Morello on drums and Eugene Wright on bass), followed by a set of Tony Bennett with the Ralph Sharon Trio (Sharon, Billy Exiner on drums and Hal Gaylord on bass). The last part of the concert featured the Dave Brubeck Trio (minus Desmond) and Tony Bennett in a unrehearsed set of improvisations, including this great recording of That Old Black Magic.

That Old Black Magic

Listen to That Old Black Magic on Spotify. Song · Dave Brubeck, Tony Bennett · 2003

That Old Black Magic, as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962 is available for pre-ordering from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

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Bennett/Brubeck The White House Sessions Live 1962 Preview

The New York Times has posted a free preview of the upcoming Bennett/Brubeck The White House Sessions Live 1962 CD, which will be available a week from today, May 28.

Bennett:Brubeck

I have to say that I have had very high hopes for this release and it’s even better than I imagined. The audio quality is excellent and the concert is really stunning.

So, if you can’t wait until the 28th, head on over to the New York Times for a listen.

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The White House Sessions Live 1962

After waiting for fifty years, we only have twenty more days to wait for the Tony Bennett / Dave Brubeck album The White House Sessions Live 1962.

Cecil Stoughton. White House Photographs. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston.
Cecil Stoughton. White House Photographs. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston.

Here’s a very nice video preview, narrated by Mr. Bennett, about the concert and the upcoming release with music, great still photographs from the concert and even the voice of President Kennedy.