[Dixielandjazz] Tony Bennett interviewed

[Robert Ringwald]

Not "Dixieland" but interesting, I hope to a lot of Listmates.  
 

Tony Bennett interviewed

Tony Bennett Won't Dumb Down
One singer fights against American idiots
by Jed Gottlieb
Boston Herald, February 2, 2011

Tony Bennett plans on going on forever.
You can try talking to him about retirement, but the 84-year-old legend will have
none of it. But Bennett, who performs at Citi Wang Theatre on Saturday, happily discussed
everything from Duke Ellington to "the idiots" in the music business when he phoned
the Herald from his home in New York City.
Herald: For 60 years, you've watched the music you love besieged from all sides by
new genres -- but you've always stuck by the songs that are so important to you.
Have you ever been tempted to try to adapt your music to the changing times?
Bennett: I had very good teachers, some of the best, and one thing they taught me
was, never compromise. I grew up, and this isn't just an opinion, with the greatest
group of composers we've seen in a hundred years: Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Duke
Ellington, all of them.
Herald: Basically, great art is great art and that's why you're still singing these
classic songs?
Bennett: Yes, great art lasts. To me the whole premise is that if it's good, it's
good. Now the corporations think that it's old music. But what's the biggest pop
song to come from Sweden or France or Germany? Our country has given the world the
greatest popular music, "Night and Day" by Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hart's "Blue
Moon." We did that and I'm convinced that 35 years from now this will be called America's
classical music.
Herald: You think it was the record companies that rejected this music on their quest
for new sounds such as rock 'n' roll or rap or whatever?
Bennett: Now it's about making a quick buck. The people who run the music industry
think the public are idiots, but they're the idiots for not giving the people music
of quality. You always have to respect the fans.
Herald: Do you think this is why Rod Stewart is doing standards albums? Why people
like Harry Connick Jr. and Michael Buble become huge? Because there is always an
audience looking for this kind of music?
Bennett: Remember, this music has always been popular. I've been doing this since
1950 and internationally there's always been enough demand for me to play stadiums.
But I dislike playing big stadiums, where you have to shout and use this big sound
system, no finesse in that. I like playing beautiful concert halls. That's still
2,700 people, it's still a lot of people. Remember, Hitler had a bigger audience
than any rock band ever, but that didn't make him any good.
Herald: Is there any modern music you like?
Bennett: Oh, sure, there's lots. I like the two you mentioned, Harry Connick and
Michael Buble, just great. I've always been a big fan of Paul McCartney and everything
he's done. And there are plenty of others. But I go back to what I grew up on. I
remember taking lessons in New York and looking out at all the marquees advertising
Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Art Tatum and later Miles Davis, Stan Getz, John
Coltrane. There was a lot more going on then.
Herald: I know you don't talk of retirement but do you think about a time when your
voice can't do it?
Bennett: It's not like I'm an athlete. My voice can keep going. And I've still got
so much to learn.
-30



--Bob Ringwald
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Fulton Street Jazz Band
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After a night of drink, drugs and wild sex Bill woke up to find himself next to a
really ugly woman.
That's when he realized he had made it home safely.