Tony Swing

This 101 track, 4 CD survey reveals the importance of the contribution the accordion made to the history of jazz. Distinguished jazz artists such as George Shearing, Harry James and Bennie Moten either played or included an accordion player in their orchestras.

Tony Bennett - Sings Ellington, Hot & Cool (1999) {RPM–Columbia CK 63668}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 315 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 146 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 67 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1999 RPM Records / Columbia / Sony Music | CK 63668
Jazz / Vocal Jazz / Big Band / Contemporary Jazz / Swing

Tony Bennett's practically inevitable commemoration of the Duke Ellington centenary is an appropriately blue-chip affair, with a big band and orchestra augmenting the Ralph Sharon Quartet on arrangements by Jorge Calandrelli, who has slowed the tempos to give the singer time to give intimate interpretations to the lyrics of songs like "Mood Indigo" and "Sophisticated Lady." Especially impressive are the less familiar tunes, such as "Azure" and "Day Dream." The slowest tunes also leave room for expressive solos by trombonist Al Grey and trumpeter Wynton Maralis ("Mood Indigo") and violinist Joel Smirnoff ("Sophisticated Lady").

“Bennett’s ability to straddle jazz and popular music was one he shared with few others. He managed to retain more of a jazz feel than either, and that’sN what Basie senses in him: a kindred spirit who is devoted to the not so very taxing business of s(w)inging the song with minimum distraction.”