Tony Bennett - Hot & Cool - Bennett Sings Ellington
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Tony BennettEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 1999-09-28
Music Label: Sony
Soundtracks:
- Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me
- Mood Indigo
- She's Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
- Caravan
- Chelsea Bridge
- Azure
- I'm Just A Lucky So-And-So
- In A Sentimental Mood
- Don't Get Around Much Anymore
- Sophisticated Lady
- In A Mellow Tone
- Day Dream
- Prelude To A Kiss
- It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
Free Music Notes for Hot & Cool - Bennett Sings Ellington
Free Music Review: I Nearly Passed This As A Review.......But...........
Hit: 5 Stars
although there are 26 reviews of this album, and after thoughtfully reading them all, I decided 'what the heck', my opinion is as good as the average population. First of all, I only review albums I own, and since that isn't setting the world on fire, I was less inclined to pass this one by after reading the others.
The first thing I did was to listen to this cd carefully which raised it from a "4" to a "5", something I should have done many reviews earlier!
My reasons follow.
Two icons are involved in this music, the composer Duke Ellington as well as Tony Bennett. Now it is true that Tony doesn't have the voice that he had in 1951 when he recorded "Because Of You". That said, Tony is certanly the best singer and performer of his genre. His strengths, in my opinion, have always been in the ballad, from the first that I have mentioned. Adjectives that come to mind immediately are personal intimacy, sentimentality, and in a this case a certain languidness as in "Azure". Listen to the walking bass intro and his delivery on "I'm a Lucky So-And-So".............this is Tony's type of song!!!....as is "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" (but with a Count Basie ending?). Speaking of intimacy, dig the setting of Gray Sargent's guitar (and his quote to an obscure ballad "I Understand") and Joel Smirnoff on violin.........this is Tony at his best!!! Dig also "In a Mellow Tone" a personal favorite......intimate....quietly swinging....makes you feel good.
Speaking of the violinist, Joel Smirnoff, Duke had a very good trumpet player, Ray Nance, who also played violin and was the Duke's "string section". The Duke composed a lot of somber mood music, "Mood Indigo" being a good example. " Prelude To A Kiss" on the other hand is a very passionate piece synonomous to me in the wonderful alto sax of Johnny Hodges. This cd is graced by the presence of trombonist Al Grey and Wynton Marsalis on trumpet who has his own instrumental cut on Billy Strayhorn's "Chelsea Bridge". What I'm attempting to point out is Ellington's amount of great material ( a similar but somewhat different program is Johnny Mathis from about 1990). The lush string backgrounds are appropriate to the compositions. If Benny was "The King of Swing" then certainly Edward Ellington rated being a Duke!!
Finally, I don't think Tony ever recorded "Take The 'A' Train". There are more than 1200 recordings of this Billy Stayhorn original. Surely you can find one or more that appeal to you!
Hot & Cool - Bennett Sings Ellington Poster
Tony Bennett's tribute to the songs of Duke Ellington is unsurprisingly tasteful and personal. Working mainly with longtime cohort Ralph Sharon's quartet, the occasional string section, guest horns Wynton Marsalis and Al Grey, and violinist Joel Smirnoff, Bennett puts his stamp on 14 mostly well-known tunes from the Ellington book. His "Mood Indigo" is less the cutting burst of desperation that Sinatra committed on In the Wee Small Hours and more of an isn't-that-just-the-way shake of the head. "Caravan" appears in an arrangement that both honors the spirit of the famous original and shakes it up with a subtle shift in tempo. "Azure," the least celebrated song here, is another highlight, thanks to Bennett's artful tangy-and-sweet touch. Only the snippets of "Take the 'A' Train" that link several cuts feel out of place; it would have been nice to hear the ensemble work out on the number as an album closer instead. Still, Hot & Cool does honor to everyone involved. --Rickey WrightJazz Music CDs
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