Tony Bennett
The Best Of The Improv Recordings
Concord Records
www.concordmusicgroup.com
By George W. Harris

Hard to believe it now, but back in the early 70s the iconic Tony Bennett couldn’t get a record deal to save his life, unless he wanted to do covers of The Carpenters or The Beatles. So, he started his own label, which was a financial disaster, but a musical jackpot. This single disc covers the highlights, which include sessions with Bill Evans, Ruby Braff/George Barnes and a group of mainstreamers like Jimmy McPartland, Vic Dickenson and Charlie Byrd.

The duets with Evans are a followup to his stunning premier summit meeting with the pianist, and it’s just as good. Listen to Bennett’s dynamics on “You Don’t Know What Love Is” or “You Must Believe In Spring” and you’ll understand why he was Sinatra’s favorite. The takes of “My Romance” and “I Could Write A Book” with Barnes and Braff are lithe and buoyant, while his duet with Marian McPartland on “While We’re Young” is just sublime. This is a text book lesson on what singing is all about. Wow!