k.d. lang, Tony Bennett - A Wonderful World
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Free Music Notes for A Wonderful World
Free Music Review: What a Wonderful CD
Hit: 5 Stars
After having heard k.d. and Tony perform on Letterman, I had to run out and buy this cd. Their voices blend together beautifully and it sounds as if they had been performing together forever. I can't stop listening and the songs are on my mind when I'm not hearing them.Free Music Review: "shades of Armstrong leaves a message of love ~ Tony & K.D."
Hit: 5 Stars
Louis Armstrong was the "Ambassador of American Music", gave so much of himself and never had a mean bone in his body. Well, I can say the same about Mr. Tony Bennett and K.D. Lang, who give life again to the tunes that we all remember with smiles upon our faces. Armstrong really brought popular music to the forefront, in fact he invented so many genres that they number like the stars in the sky. His close friend Bing Crosby once said "Satchmo really started the whole ball rolling with his solo performances from the very beginning". We will never know how much of an influence Armstrong was to the music we now call Easy Listening, Jazz, Blues, R & B(Soul) and Rock. The evolution of his style never wavered, his trumpet playing and vocals are unmistakable. Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong duets remain classic standards, are as popular today as they were when recorded.Tony and K.D. rediscover the songs the whole world fell in love with. Their smooth gentle style that is instantly recognizable takes each tune to another level. Today, the songs inclusive in this album remain among the most beloved of our time. With new pure melodic arrangements by one of the top arrangers in the business Pete Matz, sets the stage for a lineup in a collectors dream. Many would read this album as a soundtrack for the "Jazz Generation", but it's more than that. Listen as both singers serve up gold with their timeless sound. Take for instance "EXACTLY LIKE YOU", Tony starts off with a happy beat that sends you into another stratosphere, wonderful addition from the great tenor saxophone of Scott Hamilton. K.D. takes a chorus with Tony ending the song with "yes dear", nice touch. When Armstrong sang "LA VIE EN ROSE", each lyric took you by the hand and you were special, this arrangement has the same effect only Bennett and Lang take it a step further. The interpretation of "I'M CONFESSIN'(THAT I LOVE YOU)", hits the mark with a perfect bullseye...can remember Ella & Louis performing this back in the '50s. Not much to add with "WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD", touching the heartstrings today just as Pop's did when he sang it, when we were very young. Our next song has been recorded on so many albums by Armstrong, every time we enjoy it as if it were the first time "A KISS TO BUILD A DREAM ON", at least six films or more has used this for their soundtrack. What a fantastic voice Lang has, her style is so refreshing...and Tony just keeps getting better with age.
From the very first note of this album, I was hooked. No recording performance since, and likely ever will touch my heart and capture my emotions like these two. Once again, Pete Matz (orchestration/conductor), Lee Musiker (musical direction/arrangements) and Rob Mathes (vocal arrangements) went with their gut feeling and it worked for every fan of this genre (good music for pure enjoyment). The mix is complete perfection and you have a wonderful duo that the world will never see again...or will they!
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Total Time: 43:48 on 12 Tracks ~ Sony Records CK-86734 ~ (11/05/2002)
Free Music Review: I beg to differ...
Hit: 1 Stars
Well, I certainly am in the minority, but then again I have high standards with respect to such enormously talented individuals as Tony and K.D. They, as well as Louis Armstrong, whose music was to be celebrated on this album, have been done a disservice here. The orchestration is languorous to the point of being soporific. There isn't a trumpet to be heard (roll over, Satchmo!), and not one song conveys the rollicking spirit of the man who to whom they are paying tribute. K.D.'s voice is so rich and multilayered, but Tony's has begun to suffer from the changes in timbre that come with age. More artful production values characteristic of someone like Quincy Jones would have enabled a more elegant meshing of these veteran voices, with richer arrangements. Sorry for you diehard fans, but these two deserved something better than the flat landscape of this production.Free Music Review: They don't get any better than this
Hit: 5 Stars
This is the CD I've been waiting for. Bennett and lang are wonderful together. The choice of material couldn't be improved upon. One gem after another. My favorite CD of 2002 - without question.Free Music Review: Bridging Generations with Great Results
Hit: 5 Stars
The dueting of male and female singing stars has a long and illustrious history. And now Bennett and lang have taken their turn at it, and the outcome is wonderful. Bennett, who has been riding a revival for the past decade still has his smooth delivery of his music crossing romance, joy and intimacy together in one package. And lang continues to spread her versatility into the crooner arena like she had begun with her last couple of albums. Together they sound as if they had been performing forever together. What started as a single song on Bennett's Unplugged performance CD has grown to a full album. And it shows the potential that was exhibited by the two with "Moonglow." Here they continue their give and take singing as if just to each other, with the listener being able to overhear. The comfort and respect that they have for each other is evident, and as a result the album is a light journey on a musical cloud. Songs such as "Dream a Little Dream of Me" glide across their combined voices and with a musical give and take become a conversation, rather than a concert or performance. Bennett and lang have produced an album that is just a joy to listen to, and I hope this is the first of many collaborations to come.