In memory of Tony Bennett, who passed away today, I offer the following tribute: Whenever I needed a Great American Songbook-style segue on KCOU's "Jazz Odyssey" and especially on WEW, Bennett was at the top of my list. His vocal approach to standards reminded listeners why they were standards in the first place. Just on this blog alone, my WEW and KCOU playlists show that I chose these Bennett renditions for airplay:
- Can You Find It In Your Heart?
- Chicago (with Count Basie)
- Here's That Rainy Day
- I Got Rhythm
- I Thought About You
- I've Got The World On A String
- Moonlight In Vermont
- Rags To Riches
- Steppin' Out With My Baby
- They Can't Take That Away From Me
I could write one of two reviews for each song--either "just the right amount of emoting" or "just the right amount of swing." Bennett also, in my view, recorded the best version of "I Wanna Be Around," and enduring versions of "I'll Be Home For Christmas," "I'll Be Seeing You," "It Had To Be You," and "These Foolish Things."
Only so many artists are so consistent for so long. During his 96 years on Earth, Bennett recorded a wealth of familiar favorites that will continue to hold up to repeated listening.
