The Art Of Romance

Performer: Tony Bennett
Engineer: Dae Bennett
Producer: Phil Ramone
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: Personnel: Tony Bennett (vocals); Gray Sargent (guitar); Phil Woods (saxophone); Lee Musiker (piano); Clayton Cameron (drums); Candido Camero (congas). Recording information: Bennett Studios, Englewood, New Jersey. Arrangers: Jorge Calandrelli; Lee Musiker; Johnny Mandel. Few singers embody the essence of swing and gentility like Tony Bennett. On this 2004 release, produced by the famed Phil Ramone, Bennett teams up with music director and pianist Lee Musiker, and together they create an album that nimbly revolves around themes of love. Rich orchestral arrangements by Johnny Mandel, Musiker, and others augment Bennett's quartet. Made up of mostly dreamy ballads and light, mid-tempo pieces, THE ART OF ROMANCE focuses on stellar standards and other lesser-known tunes that speak of love's rapture and its loss. The charmingly sentimental songs "I Remember You" and "Don't Like Goodbyes" are poignant works that reinforce Bennett's ability (at age 78) to really get inside of a lyric and make it his own. Each heartrending piece on this record sees Bennett crooning over lush, legato strings, gentle piano musings, and whispery brushwork. "Being Alive" is one exception; this tune explodes into a rollicking jazz samba and highlights not only drummer Clayton Cameron, but also conga player Candido Camero and the bebop stylings of alto saxophonist Phil Woods.

Uncut (p.148) - 4 stars out of 5 - "impeccable orchestration, tinkling ivories, whispering brushes and a sax that's both sleazy and classy. Gliding across it all is the man's exquisite phrasing." JazzTimes (p.65) - "[T]hese 11 tracks nestle Bennett's beautifully aged voice, dark and smooth as the rarest of vintage ports, in the soft embrace of pianist Lee Musiker, bassist Paul Langosch, drummer Clayton Cameron and guitarist Gray Sargent."

One of the finest voices of 20th century American pop, Tony Bennett began his career in the '50s, under the watchful eye of producer Mitch Miller, recording huge hits such as "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," and "Because of You." In 1958, his album BASIE SWINGS-BENNETT SINGS was a precursor to later jazz-based work. That same year, "Firefly" was Bennett's last US Top 40 entry until 1962, when he made a major comeback with the Grammy-winning "I Left My Heart In San Francisco." In '93 and '94 he was awarded Grammys for his albums PERFECTLY FRANK and STEPPIN' OUT.

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