Tony Bennett by Matthew Hoffman

Lavishly illustrated, this deluxe, LP-size production will be welcomed by Bennett’s legions of fans. It’s rare for an essentially pop artist to be endorsed by many jazz people, but Armstrong, Basie, Ellington, Getz, Evans (Gil) and critic Nat Hentoff all speak of him with warm appreciation here. And John Lee Hooker, as this is written, also tells interviewer Michael Kinsman in the San Diego Union Tribune how he feels about Bennett: “I like his voice; I like his style. He’s a real good singer, a good friend.”

So, remember, however well you sing, it pays to be a nice guy, too.

Originally Published November 1, 1997