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For those new to the music of Tony Bennett, Improv was a label started by Tony Bennett and businessman Bill Hassett. Bennett was fed up with the suits at Columbia Records, who were trying to make him sing rock & roll. When his contract expired at the beginning of the 1970s, he and Hassett formed a label to help him realize his aesthetic ambitions, and Improv was born. Bennett recorded five albums for the label between 1975 and 1977 before it went bankrupt. These recordings may not have sold well -- due largely to distribution problems -- but all of them were critically acclaimed. On these sides, Bennett is in awesome company throughout, with talent ranging from Bill Evans and Earl Hines to Ruby Braff to Marian McPartland to Buddy Tate and Charlie Byrd. The albums included here are Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers and Hart Songs, Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers & Hart, Tony Bennett and Bill Evans Together Again (this was the follow-up to the Fantasy set entitled The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album and is easily the better of the two), Life Is Beautiful, and Tony Bennett With the McPartlands and Friends Make Magnificent Music. While the original albums have been issued on CD before, complete sessions have never been available until now. Along with the original LPs are unissued alternate takes, 45s, and even an unreleased tune finished for a particular session but never used. In addition, the album with the McPartlands is here on compact disc for the first time. It should also be noted that this box finally completes the two different Tony Bennett and Bill Evans Together Again CD issues that were released on Rhino and Concord with different material. Collectors will find the box irresistible as much for its fine, if simple, presentation as for the material itself. The liner essay by jazz writer Will Friewald is not only informative about the period and the label, but is exhaustive in its discussion of the recording sessions. This is a reasonably priced multi-disc collection that offers an intimate, up-close view of a restlessly original artist during the biggest gamble of his professional career.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
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Tommy Wolf, ComposerLyricist - Fred Astaire, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 1975 Concord Jazz, Inc.
Ruy Guerra, ComposerLyricist - Jay Livingston, ComposerLyricist - HELEN KEANE, Producer, Recording Producer - Ray Evans, ComposerLyricist - Francis Hime, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wayne Wright, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John Giuffrida, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Chuck Hughes, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Kirk Felton, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1997 Concord Records
Gene Lees, ComposerLyricist - Milton Nascimento, ComposerLyricist - Fernando Brant, ComposerLyricist - HELEN KEANE, Producer, Recording Producer - Tony Bennett, Producer, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wayne Wright, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John Giuffrida, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Chuck Hughes, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Kirk Felton, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1997 Concord Records
Tony Bennett, MainArtist - Marjorie Houseman, ComposerLyricist - Milt Raskin, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1975 Concord Jazz, Inc.
Cole Porter, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 1975 Concord Jazz, Inc.
Richard Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Lorenz Hart, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 1975 Concord Jazz, Inc.
Herman Hupfeld, ComposerLyricist - HELEN KEANE, Producer, Recording Producer - Tony Bennett, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wayne Wright, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John Giuffrida, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Chuck Hughes, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Kirk Felton, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1997 Concord Records
Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 1975 Concord Jazz, Inc.
Kurt Weill, ComposerLyricist - Maxwell Anderson, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 1975 Concord Jazz, Inc.
W.B. OVERSTREET, ComposerLyricist - Billy Higgins, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 1975 Concord Jazz, Inc.
Cole Porter, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 2003 Concord Records, Inc.
Torrie Zito, ComposerLyricist - Sammy Cahn, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 1975 Concord Jazz, Inc.
Marvin Hamlisch, ComposerLyricist - Edward Kleban, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 1979 Concord Jazz, Inc.
William Salter, ComposerLyricist - Ralph MacDonald, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 1979 Concord Jazz, Inc.
DISC 2
George Barnes, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Lorenz Hart, ComposerLyricist - Ruby Braff, Cornet, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Bennett, Producer, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wayne Wright, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John Giuffrida, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Kirk Felton, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2004 Concord Records
George Barnes, Guitar, Artist, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Lorenz Hart, ComposerLyricist - Ruby Braff, Cornet, Artist, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Bennett, MainArtist - Wayne Wright, Guitar, Artist, AssociatedPerformer - John Giuffrida, Upright Bass, Artist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2004 Concord Records
George Barnes, Guitar, Artist, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Lorenz Hart, ComposerLyricist - Ruby Braff, Cornet, Artist, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Bennett, MainArtist - Wayne Wright, Guitar, Artist, AssociatedPerformer - John Giuffrida, Bass Guitar, Artist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2004 Concord Records
George Barnes, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Lorenz Hart, ComposerLyricist - Ruby Braff, Cornet, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Bennett, Producer, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wayne Wright, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John Giuffrida, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Kirk Felton, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2004 Concord Records
Richard Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Lorenz Hart, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 1976 Concord Music Group, Inc
Richard Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Lorenz Hart, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 1976 Concord Music Group, Inc
Richard Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Lorenz Hart, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 1976 Concord Music Group, Inc
George Barnes, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Lorenz Hart, ComposerLyricist - Ruby Braff, Cornet, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Bennett, Producer, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wayne Wright, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John Giuffrida, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Kirk Felton, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2004 Concord Records
Richard Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Lorenz Hart, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 1976 Concord Music Group, Inc
George Barnes, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Lorenz Hart, ComposerLyricist - Ruby Braff, Cornet, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Bennett, Producer, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wayne Wright, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John Giuffrida, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Kirk Felton, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2004 Concord Records
George Barnes, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Lorenz Hart, ComposerLyricist - Ruby Braff, Cornet, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Bennett, Producer, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wayne Wright, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John Giuffrida, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Kirk Felton, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2004 Concord Records
Richard Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Lorenz Hart, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 1977 Concord Music Group, Inc
Richard Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Lorenz Hart, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 1977 Concord Music Group, Inc
Richard Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Lorenz Hart, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 1977 Concord Music Group, Inc
Richard Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Lorenz Hart, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 1977 Concord Music Group, Inc
George Barnes, Guitar, Artist, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Lorenz Hart, ComposerLyricist - Ruby Braff, Cornet, Artist, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Bennett, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wayne Wright, Guitar, Artist, AssociatedPerformer - John Giuffrida, Bass Guitar, Artist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2004 Concord Records
Richard Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Lorenz Hart, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 1977 Concord Music Group, Inc
George Barnes, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Lorenz Hart, ComposerLyricist - Ruby Braff, Cornet, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Bennett, Producer, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wayne Wright, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John Giuffrida, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Kirk Felton, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2004 Concord Records
George Barnes, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Lorenz Hart, ComposerLyricist - Ruby Braff, Cornet, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Bennett, Producer, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Wayne Wright, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John Giuffrida, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Kirk Felton, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2004 Concord Records
Richard Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Lorenz Hart, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 1977 Concord Music Group, Inc
Richard Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Lorenz Hart, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 2004 Concord Music Group, Inc
Richard Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Lorenz Hart, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 2004 Concord Music Group, Inc
Richard Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Lorenz Hart, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 2004 Concord Music Group, Inc
Richard Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Lorenz Hart, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 2004 Concord Music Group, Inc
Richard Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Lorenz Hart, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 2004 Concord Music Group, Inc
Richard Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Lorenz Hart, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 2004 Concord Music Group, Inc
DISC 3
Dory Langdon, ComposerLyricist - Bill Evans, MainArtist - HELEN KEANE, Producer - David Raksin, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 1977 ToBill Entertainment Corp.
Bill Evans, MainArtist - Leonard Bernstein, ComposerLyricist - HELEN KEANE, Producer - Adolph Green, ComposerLyricist - Betty Comden, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 1977 ToBill Entertainment Corp.
Bill Evans, MainArtist - Jule Styne, Composer - HELEN KEANE, Producer - Adolph Green, Composer - Betty Comden, Composer - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 1977 ToBill Entertainment Corp.
Bill Evans, MainArtist - Richard Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Lorenz Hart, ComposerLyricist - HELEN KEANE, Producer - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 1977 ToBill Entertainment Corp.
Bill Evans, MainArtist - Thad Jones, ComposerLyricist - HELEN KEANE, Producer - ALEC WILDER, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 1977 ToBill Entertainment Corp.
Bill Evans, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - HELEN KEANE, Producer - Carol Hall, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 1977 ToBill Entertainment Corp.
Bill Evans, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - HELEN KEANE, Producer, Recording Producer - Gene De Paul, ComposerLyricist - Don Raye, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Don Cody, Producer, Recording Producer - Kirk Felton, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1977 Concord Records
Bill Evans, MainArtist - Jay Livingston, ComposerLyricist - HELEN KEANE, Producer - Ray Evans, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist - Percy Faith, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1977 ToBill Entertainment Corp.
Bill Evans, MainArtist - Jay Livingston, ComposerLyricist - HELEN KEANE, Producer - Ray Evans, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist - Neil Hefti, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1977 ToBill Entertainment Corp.
Bill Evans, MainArtist - Michel Legrand, ComposerLyricist - Marilyn Bergman, ComposerLyricist - Alan Bergman, ComposerLyricist - Tony Bennett, MainArtist
℗ 1977 ToBill Entertainment Corp.
Album review
For those new to the music of Tony Bennett, Improv was a label started by Tony Bennett and businessman Bill Hassett. Bennett was fed up with the suits at Columbia Records, who were trying to make him sing rock & roll. When his contract expired at the beginning of the 1970s, he and Hassett formed a label to help him realize his aesthetic ambitions, and Improv was born. Bennett recorded five albums for the label between 1975 and 1977 before it went bankrupt. These recordings may not have sold well -- due largely to distribution problems -- but all of them were critically acclaimed. On these sides, Bennett is in awesome company throughout, with talent ranging from Bill Evans and Earl Hines to Ruby Braff to Marian McPartland to Buddy Tate and Charlie Byrd. The albums included here are Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers and Hart Songs, Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers & Hart, Tony Bennett and Bill Evans Together Again (this was the follow-up to the Fantasy set entitled The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album and is easily the better of the two), Life Is Beautiful, and Tony Bennett With the McPartlands and Friends Make Magnificent Music. While the original albums have been issued on CD before, complete sessions have never been available until now. Along with the original LPs are unissued alternate takes, 45s, and even an unreleased tune finished for a particular session but never used. In addition, the album with the McPartlands is here on compact disc for the first time. It should also be noted that this box finally completes the two different Tony Bennett and Bill Evans Together Again CD issues that were released on Rhino and Concord with different material. Collectors will find the box irresistible as much for its fine, if simple, presentation as for the material itself. The liner essay by jazz writer Will Friewald is not only informative about the period and the label, but is exhaustive in its discussion of the recording sessions. This is a reasonably priced multi-disc collection that offers an intimate, up-close view of a restlessly original artist during the biggest gamble of his professional career.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
About the album
- 4 disc(s) - 76 track(s)
- Total length: 04:13:12
- Main artists: Tony Bennett
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Concord Records
- Genre: Jazz
© 2004 Concord Records, Inc. This Compilation ℗ 2004 Concord Records, Inc.
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