2023 thus far is a year in which the world is losing greats from the world of music right and left. The latest is Tony Bennett, arguably the last of the crooners (represented by Bing, Frank, Dino, Nat, Mel Tormé, Dick Haymes, etc.).
Tony, one of the greats of 20th century music, passed in NYC at 96 earlier today. Here's Tony and Bill Evans on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
Since Tony waxed a gazillion recordings over his eight decades in music, can't post all of them. The 1962 Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall album is a good place to start. Tops with this music fan would be the two albums Tony waxed with pianist Bill Evans.
There is a connection between the two of them rarely equalled in popular music.
While Frank Sinatra concerts feature a duo on "One For My Baby and One For The Road" with pianist Bill Miller, and undoubtedly Tony Bennett performances, between swinging uptempo numbers, delivered incredible duos with his pianist/music director Ralph Sharon, on recordings, these Tony Bennett- Bill Evans albums can't be topped.
Tony told his life story, assisted by author and 20th century music expert Will Friedwald, in the excellent The Good Life: The Autobiography of Tony Bennett. Along with many of Tony's records, it gets our highest recommendation.
In closing, Mr. Bennett, of course, has also been intertwined with the city of my birth, San Francisco.
After a San Francisco Giants victory at Oracle Park, a serenade of "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" - usually from the p.a. system, but sometimes from Tony in person - inevitably would be heard, and always sounded beautiful.
Thanks for the music and memories, Tony!
2 comments:
Paul, thanks for posting the Edmonton concert. I'll have to watch the whole thing.
I figured Allarco was behind this, considering Tony Bennett made an appearance on SCTV when it was shooting in Edmonton under Dr. Allard's bankroll. It was confirmed when Doug Holtby's name came on screen; he was Dr. Allard's right-hand guy up there then.
At the time, there was a pianist cum variety show host named Tommy Banks who assembled a pretty good big band. At one time, top session people from Toronto were in it. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't have a hand in this.
Dave Thomas enjoyed working with Tony. Now wondering if the Toronto session musicians had a hand in the SCTV "Jazz Singer" episode featuring Al Jarreau.
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