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You might think these are sappy old standards, sung too many times and overly crooned, but I have to say that Bennett's phrasing and voice are better than ever. Now that he's into his codger years, his voice should be making an exit, but ain't so.
On these 2 albums, he sings with a lot of current (younger) performers and showcases them in his own studio.
It pains me to say this, but I think Sheryl Crow sounds great here. John Mayer, Lady Gaga (who can actually sing), Josh Groban (who's great voice can't find a niche to sing in), Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin (who can sing Bennett under the table), and many others are paired up beautifully. He knows when to take the lead and when to back off.
This might be the best CD set of jazz/standards for the buck, if you dig this stuff.
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I had this album in my hand and was about to buy it but ended up with A&M K2HD Mastering of Joan Baez which sounds quite good and Madonna's new album. I think I buy Madonna albums out of habit just complete the set LOL - but it's probably the best album she's put out since Ray of Light.
I've heard the Gaga/Bennett album - I sent miss gaga a message to sing more jazz - check out the link below.
I think I'll pick this album up on payday.
Sending Gaga a memo was cool. I was surprised at what I heard -- I agree, I'd like to hear her take a shot at jazz. But ... she'll no doubt go where the money leads. Not much coin in jazz I'm afraid.
And if I was to send her a message, I'd probably suggest a name change. See? Not everybody gets a good idea.
She got the name Lady Gaga from "Radio Ga Ga" from one of her favorite bands "Queen"
Which also may explain the crazy costumes and showmanship - playing the piano with her feet up on the lid.
She's
ABBA/Madonna/Queen/Jerry Lee Lewis/Elton John/Liberace/Marilyn Munroe/ sprinkled over a classically trained jazz voice
She's a hoot - I don't get the animosity. Sure it's bubble-gum pop cheese ball music - but it's fun - damn fun. MTV generation and the videos are generally interesting and creative too.
You're right - we won't see much jazz - but you never know - down the road when she's got all the loot you could possibly need she may put out one of those "special albums" to take a risk.
Sinead O'Connor put out a Reggae album - who would have thunk that? And it's pretty good too.
The XRCD is fine and worth owning. The sound of his piano is far better than the SACDs of the early 60s. Heck, I am going to Waltz right over to my rack and fire this one up right now. Thank you for the reminder free.ranger.
It is a great piece of music. Don't know the recording technology of it, but I know it sounds great. I must have 5,000 vinyl lp's stashed in no particular order. It'll taken expedition to find it, but I know it's in there.edit: schpeling earors.
Edits: 04/28/12
I saw the clip of "Lady is a Tramp" several times...... It was Auto-Tuned garbage........ Both Bennett's and Gaga's voices.
She always sounded like nails on a chalkboard to me.
I don't know what auto-tune is, but with hindsight, Bennett is in his 80's, so it's not much of a reach to think that some trickeration is employed.
I only saw part of the DVD shown as a PBS fund-raising effort, so I didn't catch all the nuances of the sounds.
Still, it sounded pretty damn good to me.
"I don't know what auto-tune is,"
It is a computer-based music processing tool that corrects imperfections in pitch. I've heard it applied to singers and violinists. See link.
"but with hindsight, Bennett is in his 80's, so it's not much of a reach to think that some trickeration is employed."
From that angle, I should give him a pass for this. If used in moderation, I guess Auto-Tune could be useful for extending careers of classic singers.
Sheryl Crow was a cancer survivor, so people have been hands off in criticizing her........ Same goes for Amy Winehouse with her hardships........ Political correctness I guess. I don't think Crow is anything special either. But that is the case for just about any singer I've heard who uses Auto-Tune. (Which in these days is almost everyone.)
In the case of Barbra Streisand, who I could not stand in her natural voice, it's the only case for a regarded singer where I thought Auto-Tune made the singer more pleasant to listen to.
Too bad those who want to believe Lady Gaga is the real deal have trumpeted the Bennett Duet "Tramp" clip as "proof" of their belief. I only threw in the non-Auto-Tuned Bennett clip to demonstrate that the Duet clip was Auto-Tuned.
What do you mean by that Todd?
RubenSan Francisco, California
The locking of the pitch...... And also Tony, even in his prime, was not exactly the most pitch-perfect of singers....... But he had a nice voice and delivery that made up for that.Below is a Bennett's rendition of "Fly Me to the Moon"........ Naturally-recorded vocals never "lock" onto pitch. This clip below is mainly to demonstrate Tony Bennett's natural voice.
Edits: 04/25/12
Have to throw this one in.
If I had to pick a male singer who I thought was most-pleasant to listen to, it's Nat King Cole.
What about Johhny Hartmann?
Loved his voice but never got any emotional feel from him.
nt
They're slightly off half the time. It partly sets up their so-called phrasing, or soul, like they are half singing a song, and half telling a story. If used well, a singer can really draw the listener into the song. Tom Jones was another. Dusty Springfield. There are/were a lot of them.
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"He was one of those men who live in poverty so that their lines of questioning may continue." - John Steinbeck
nt
We all get a little nuts about something or other. Hiking boots really gets me going (in several ways). Peace be upon you, brother.
I only provided a clip with the same singer non-Auto-Tuned, to demonstrate the contrast in how Bennett's voice sounded. (I wish I could also do this with Gaga, but I don't know of a non-Auto-Tuned clip of her singing.)
If you think Tony Bennett is close to pitch perfect like Bing Crosby or Nat King Cole (for example), we'll live in disagreement. Some people think I'm crazy for claiming Barbra Streisand had horrible pitch. This is something that's almost impossible to demonstrate, unless you're fortunate to have a clip of the same song by a more pitch perfect (not Auto-Tuned) singer.
http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/musical/2008/06/09/080609crmu_music_frerejones?currentPage=all
this seems more reasoned
Nice article, and yes, well-informed.
ah ha ha ha ha ha!
......we wouldn't even have this discussion.............................
nt
I've been given a hard time from pro wrestling fans who are convinced it is real....... Just because I cannot prove it's fake does not mean it is real.
One of the classic singers whose remasters had Auto-Tune applied was Frank Sinatra (sacrilege)......... I posted these tracks on the Asylum earlier...... Of the roughly 30 people who responded to me, about two-thirds picked out the correct track, just one person picked out the incorrect track, and the remaining listeners (roughly one-third) claimed they couldn't discern a difference.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcpnXN9u3G0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_Pg9iTFKQk
Edits: 04/25/12
Here in glorious HD
RubenSan Francisco, California
I was watching a PBS show on tv. They were showing the dvd (and giving it away) as part of the local fund raisers.
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