Posts Tagged ‘I Left My Heart In San Francisco’

RPM/Columbia/Legacy Recordings Set To Release Bennett & Brubeck – The White House Sessions, Live 1962, An Historic One-Time Musical Summit Of Two American Jazz Masters

Newly Discovered Historic Live Jazz Summit – Tony Bennett & Dave Brubeck – The White House Sessions, Live 1962 – Available May 28. (PRNewsFoto/RPM/Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings)

Recently Discovered Master Tapes From Sony Music Entertainment Vaults Reveal Impromptu Genius in The White House Seminar Program American Jazz Program

Lost Jazz Treasure Available for the First Time Ever on Tuesday, May 28

Bennett & Brubeck – The White House Sessions, Live 1962 will be available Tuesday, May 28.

One of the great lost treasures of American musical history, the Tony Bennett-Dave Brubeck White House Seminar performance came about when the artists–each already on the bill with his own ensemble–agreed to seize the moment with an impromptu set.  While the Bennett-Brubeck recording of “That Old Black Magic” had surfaced on the occasional compilation (Brubeck’s 1971′s out-of-print LP, Summit Sessions, and 2001′s Vocal Encounters), the rest of the Bennett and Brubeck performances–an hour’s worth of music–were a mythical lost object in the Sony Music Entertainment vaults until finally surfacing through a fortuitous discovery last December, just weeks after Brubeck’s passing on December 5, 2012 (one day shy of his 92nd birthday).

1962 was a pivotal time in American cultural and musical history and for the artists on this recording.  Just seventeen days before the White House Seminar American Jazz Concert, Tony Bennett had entered the Billboard charts with his signature song, “I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” and there is an ebullience in Tony’s performances and a palpable excitement of the college-age audience in their recognition of Tony’s on-fire success.   Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five” had become emblematic of jazz itself and, in 1962, Brubeck’s band was picked as the best combo in jazz by Down Beat magazine readers and DJs surveyed by Billboard.

With both Bennett and Brubeck at the top of their respective games, the masters play off and with each other to create a spontaneous collaborative music that stands with the best of each of their work.

It would be 47 years before Tony Bennett and Dave Brubeck would share a stage again to make music when they both appeared at the Newport Jazz Festival in 2009 and performed “That Old Black Magic,” one of the standards they’d immortalized in Washington in August 1962.

In his liner notes to the album, noted jazz historian Ted Gioia observes, “Both had arrived at stardom, but were seemingly stars from different galaxies.

“Yet these two beloved musicians also had much in common.  Both had served in World War II, and participated in the Battle of the Bulge.  Both were active in the Civil Rights Movement—not long before this recording was made, Brubeck canceled 23 concerts rather than replace his African-American bassist Eugene Wright, and Bennett would soon be marching with Martin Luther King in Montgomery, Alabama. But these two artists were musically simpatico as well.  They shared a devotion to the great American songbook, and knew how to straddle the worlds of jazz and popular music without compromises or crass commercialism, yet still reach millions of people, many of whom would never step inside a jazz club or read a copy of Down Beat.

“So what a blessing to have these tracks from the past, a true meeting of musical masters, come to us more than half-century after they were made, but still sounding as fresh and alive as they did to those present back in 1962.  The concert that day was held to honor college students who had come to Washington D.C. to work for the summer—in fact, they had met earlier that day with President Kennedy.  Historians often use the phrase ‘the best and the brightest’ to refer to the smart, idealistic people who gravitated to government service in those years, but I would apply those same words to the artists on stage that day.  And after hiding out in a dark archive for so many decades, the music of two of the best and brightest to ever interpret the American popular song is shining for us once more.”

Bennett & Brubeck
The White House Sessions, Live 1962

1. Introduction – William B. Williams
2. Take Five
3. Band introduction
4. Nomad
5. Thank You (Dziekuje)

6. Castilian Blues

The Dave Brubeck Quartet
Dave Brubeck, piano; Paul Desmond, alto sax;
Eugene Wright, bass; Joe Morello, drums

7. Introduction – William B. Williams
8. Just In Time (from Bells Are Ringing)
9. Small World (from Gypsy)
10. Make Someone Happy (from Do Re Mi)
11. Rags To Riches
12. One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) (from the RKO film, The Sky’s The Limit)
13. (I Left My Heart In) San Francisco

Tony Bennett
with Ralph Sharon, piano; Hal Gaylord, bass;
and Billy Exner, drums

14. Lullaby Of Broadway (from the Warner Bros./Vitaphone film, Golddiggers Of 1935)

15. Chicago (That Toddlin’ Town)
16. That Old Black Magic
17. There Will Never Be Another You (from the 20th Century-Fox film, Iceland)

Tony Bennett
with The Dave Brubeck Trio
Dave Brubeck, piano;
Eugene Wright, bass; Joe Morello, drums

Produced by Teo Macero

SOURCE RPM/Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings

Web Site: http://legacyrecordings.com

See larger image Time Out (Audio CD) And now for possibly the most popular album in jazz history! Dave contributes to the notes in this hi-fi version; new photos, too. List Price: $7.99 USD New From: $3.94 USD In Stock Used from: $0.48 USD In Stock

TONY BENNETT DUETS II: The Great Performances DVD to be Released by Sony Music Entertainment on March 6

DVD is Companion to Bennett’s #1 and Grammy Nominated CD DUETS II

Tony Bennett To Perform with Carrie Underwood on the Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 12

RPM/COLUMBIA RECORDS TONY BENNETT DUETS II

NEW YORK, Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Music Entertainment will release TONY BENNETT DUETS II: The Great Performances on DVD on March 6th which is a stunning companion to the singer’s celebrated DUETS II CD (on RPM/Columbia Records), which has been nominated for three Grammy Awards.  DUETS II made music history when it debuted at the top of the Billboard Album charts, making Bennett the oldest vocal artist ever to achieve the number one spot.  TONY BENNETT DUETS II:  The Great Performances reveals the behind the scenes process of the recording highlighted by beautifully filmed full-length videos of the song performances. The critically acclaimed album was released in September 2011 in honor of Bennett’s 85th birthday and features the singer’s greatest hits, performed by Bennett and today’s biggest stars, including John Mayer, Michael Buble, k.d. lang, Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson, Queen Latifah, Norah Jones, Josh Groban, Faith Hill, Alejandro Sanz, and Carrie Underwood, and more.   The DVD features special bonus content including video birthday wishes and a gallery of personally inscribed and signed sheet music from the duet guests.

TONY BENNETT DUETS II: The Great Performances can be pre-ordered now exclusively through Amazon.com.  Bennett will be appearing on the Jimmy Kimmel Show on February 9 and The Talk on February 10 (featuring a duet performance with k.d. lang of “Blue Velvet” from the DUETS II CD).

Recently nominated for three Grammys, including Best Traditional Pop Vocal, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, and Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s), the critically acclaimed album DUETS II received kudos from all quarters. The Wall Street Journal noted that the singer was “…constantly reaffirming his position as pop music’s greatest living patriarch.”

The Recording Academy just announced that Bennett will perform with Carrie Underwood on the Grammy Awards on Feb. 12.  Carrie Underwood joined Tony on his #1 CD, DUETS II, for a recording of the 1920′s popular standard “It Had To Be You.” Bennett’s first Grammy win came in 1962 for his signature song, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” which marks its 50th anniversary this year for its recording and release.  Bennett holds the longest span of Grammy nominations in the history of the awards.  Tony Bennett will also be performing at the MusiCares tribute dinner honoring Paul McCartney on February 10.

DUETS II took over six months to record with each track recorded face-to-face with his singing partners in studios around the world, from LA to Nashville to London.  Among the many highlights is Amy Winehouse’s last recorded track (‘Body and Soul’), which was produced in London’s famous Abbey Road Studios in March.  Other tracks were recorded in New York in late July: the Richard Rodgers-Lorenz Hart classic, “The Lady Is A Tramp” with Lady Gaga, and the Alan and Marilyn Bergman classic, “How Do You Keep The Music Playing,” with Aretha Franklin, and “Stranger in Paradise” with Andrea Bocelli, recorded at the singer’s Italian home.  The DVD is highlighted by insights on the process from the performers, making for an up-close look at one of 2011′s most celebrated recordings. The sessions were filmed by Oscar-winning cinematographer Dion Beebe (“Chicago,” “Memoirs of a Geisha,” “Collateral”), providing a personal, behind-the-scenes look at Bennett’s latest collaborations and his artistic approach with each song.

TONY BENNETT DUETS II: The Great Performances DVD features the following video listing:

“The Lady is a Tramp” (Lady Gaga)
“One for My Baby (And One More for the Road) (John Mayer)
“Body and Soul” (Amy Whitehouse)
“Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” (Michael Buble)
“Blue Velvet” (k.d. lang)
“How Do You Keep the Music Playing” (Aretha Franklin)
“The Girl I Love” (Sheryl Crow)
“On the Sunny Side of the Street” (Willie Nelson)
“Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me) (Queen Latifah)
“Speak Low” (Norah Jones)
“This Is All I Ask” (Josh Groban)
“Watch What Happens” (Natalie Cole)
“Stranger in Paradise” (Andrea Bocelli)
“The Way You Look Tonight” (Faith Hill)
“Yesterday I Heard the Rain” (Alejandro Sanz)
“It Had to Be You” (Carrie Underwood)

About Tony Bennett:

Entering his seventh decade as a recording artist with over 100 albums and 15 Grammy Awards including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Bennett has earned his legendary status many times over.  He remains the Columbia recording artist with the greatest longevity at the label.  His 2007 prime-time special, “Tony Bennett:  An American Classic,” won seven Emmy Awards and was directed by Academy Award winner Rob Marshall.  He has performed for 10 US Presidents, from Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Carter, Reagan, Bush Sr, Clinton, Bush Jr. and Obama.  He also worked with and marched alongside Martin Luther King in his 1965 civil rights march and was honored with the Martin Luther King’s Salute to Greatness Award. In addition to performing, he is a visual artist as well, with three of his original paintings featured in the permanent collection at the Smithsonian, including his portraits of Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington.  His humanitarian efforts are renowned and the United Nations honored him with their Humanitarian Award in 2007.  He has published three books – his autobiography, “The Good Life,” and two books of his paintings, “Tony Bennett: What My Heart Has Seen,” and “Tony Bennett In the Studio: A Life of Art and Music.”  Bennett founded, in association with the Department of Education in New York City, the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts – a public arts high school in his hometown of Astoria, Queens. With his wife Susan, he established Exploring the Arts, a charitable organization which supports arts education in NYC public high schools.  Exploring the Arts supports 14 public high schools throughout New York City.

www.tonybennett.com
www.benedettoarts.com
www.exploringthearts.org

SOURCE RPM/Columbia Records

Web Site: http://tonybennett.com/

Tony Bennett Celebrates 50th Anniversary of His Recording “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” on Monday, Jan 23

Song Garnered Bennett his First Grammy Award in 1962; 50 Years Later Bennett Still a Grammy Nominee

PBS’ Great Performances To Premiere “Tony Bennett: Duets II” on January 27

“We aren’t likely to see a recording career like this again.” – The New York Times

Exploring the Arts, Founded by Tony Bennett and Susan Benedetto, Raises $2.5M at Annual Gala to Support Arts Education in NYC Public High Schools

President Bill Clinton Introduces Tony at his debut performance at the Metropolitan Opera House, Sunday, September 18

Gala Guests Include Robert DeNiro, Richard Gere, Katie Couric and Whoopi Goldberg; Hosted by Alec Baldwin with Performance by Elton John

NEW YORK, Sept. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Over 700 invited guests toasted the evening’s honoree Tony Bennett, in celebration of his 85th Birthday, at the Exploring the Arts (ETA) annual benefit gala on Sunday, September 18.  The event, which opened with Tony’s sold-out debut at the Metropolitan Opera House, raised $2.5M for ETA, the non–profit organization established in 1999 by Tony his wife, Susan, to fund arts education in NYC public high schools.

PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON BACKSTAGE AT THE METROPOLITAN OPERA WITH SUSAN BENEDETTO AND TONY BENNETT. FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM EXPLORING THE ARTS CELEBRATING TONY's 85TH BIRTHDAY GO TO WWW.GETTYIMAGES.COM PHOTO CREDIT: LARRY BUSACCA. (PRNewsFoto/RPM Records/Columbia Records)

Former President Bill Clinton opened the evening with a birthday tribute message before introducing Bennett to the stage, and was joined by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to attend the event.  Bennett’s 90-minute concert received several standing ovations and included duet performances with Aretha Franklin, Alejandro Sanz and Elton John. Students from NYC schools were invited to join in the SRO seating at the concert, which was underwritten by HBO.

President Barack Obama opened the supper, held in a tent on Lincoln Plaza after the concert, with a special video message to Tony stating, “Tony, over the last 60 years your songs have become a part of our lives. And Michelle and I will never forget hearing your voice echo through the White House. But what I hope people will also remember is that along with so much talent you’ve always had incredible courage: you fought for your country on the battlefields of Europe; you marched with Dr. King himself; you’ve worked to help cure disease and bring the arts to our schools. More than anything you’ve shown us what it means to use your gift to enrich the lives of others, and for that we will always be grateful. Happy Birthday Tony.”

Alec Baldwin hosted the gala, which included a performance by Elton John, who said, “Tony Bennett is the most beloved person in the music industry.”   Guests at the event included Robert De Niro, Richard Gere, Katie Couric, Regis and Joy Philbin, Harry Belafonte, Dennis Leary, Jane and Mitch Winehouse, Leader Nancy Pelosi, former Governors Mario Cuomo and Jon Corzine, Rachael Ray and Steven Van Zandt.

Bennett’s highly anticipated DUETS II CD is released this week on September 20 on RPM Records/Columbia Records.  The CD, a successor to the singer’s hugely successful DUETS CD, features a roster of celebrated artists–including Lady Gaga, Michael Buble, John Mayer, Aretha Franklin, Alejandro Sanz, Amy Winehouse and others–who joined Tony live in the studio to record his catalog of hits.  Tony Bennett makes appearances on The Today Show, The View, and Tonight Show with Jay Leno this week.

www.tonybennett.com

www.exploringthearts.org

www.benedettoarts.com

About Tony Bennett

Tony Bennett is an artist who moves the hearts and touches the souls of audiences. He’s not just the singer’s singer but also an international treasure honored by the United Nations with its Citizen of the World award, which aptly describes the scope of his accomplishments. Anthony Dominick Benedetto was born in the Astoria section of Queens, New York.. He has placed two-dozen songs in the Top 40, including “I Wanna Be Around,” “The Good Life,” “Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)” and his signature hit, “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.” Thus far, Tony has earned 15 Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award as well as multiple Emmy Awards. Named a  Kennedy Center Honoree and NEA Jazz Master,  The United Nations also  presented him with their 2007 Humanitarian Award. In 2001, Tony established the Frank Sinatra School of  the Arts, one of the highest rated public high schools in New York City. With his wife Susan, they founded Exploring the Arts, a non-profit organization that supports arts programs in 14 NYC public high schools in all five boroughs. Tony Bennett celebrated his 85th birthday on August 3, 2011.

About Exploring the Arts

Exploring the Arts (ETA) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 1999 by Tony Bennett and Susan Benedetto. ETA’s mission is to strengthen the role of the arts in public high school education. ETA provides support and funding to help public high schools sustain and grow their arts programs and curricula. ETA currently has 14 Partner Schools throughout New York City’s 5 boroughs. ETA’s flagship school, Frank Sinatra School of the Arts (FSSA), was founded by Tony and Susan in Tony’s hometown of Astoria, Queens. In addition to its rigorous academic curriculum, FSSA offers 4-years majors in Film, Theatre, Dance, Fine Art, Vocal and Instrumental Music. FSSA holds one of the highest high school graduation and college acceptance rates of all NYC public schools and celebrates its 10th Anniversary in 2011.

SOURCE RPM Records/Columbia Records

Web Site: http://www.tonybennett.com