Duets II

( 30 )

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - John Bush
Tony Bennett's first album of celebrity duets (2006's Duets: An American Classic) featured an impressive cast of superstars answering the call from the dean of pop vocalists, but the arrangements were overly safe -- virtually all of them ballads with soft strings or brassy finger-snappers. Duets II follows the first by five years and features, surprisingly, a cast just as star-laden, but also arrangements that are much more dynamic, and suitable for each song and its participants. (Marion Evans, a veteran whose career goes back nearly as far as Bennett's, handles the charts for a few of the best here.) Bennett, as ever in splendid voice and impeccable groove, laughs and ...
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Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - John Bush
Tony Bennett's first album of celebrity duets (2006's Duets: An American Classic) featured an impressive cast of superstars answering the call from the dean of pop vocalists, but the arrangements were overly safe -- virtually all of them ballads with soft strings or brassy finger-snappers. Duets II follows the first by five years and features, surprisingly, a cast just as star-laden, but also arrangements that are much more dynamic, and suitable for each song and its participants. (Marion Evans, a veteran whose career goes back nearly as far as Bennett's, handles the charts for a few of the best here.) Bennett, as ever in splendid voice and impeccable groove, laughs and trades lines with stars half his age (like John Mayer), or in the case of Lady Gaga, six decades younger, and clearly makes them so comfortable in this setting that it would be easy to believe that jazz vocals were their home. Standard fare yields standard results for the likes of Michael Bublé and Josh Groban, but all of these songs have something to contribute. Bennett is especially tender and expressive with k.d. lang on "Blue Velvet" (the two had already collaborated on a full album), and he clearly enjoys his pairing with Willie Nelson for "On the Sunny Side of the Street." (Nelson takes a guitar solo, and shows some of the vocal shadings that during the '60s made him as expressive a vocalist as Bennett.) The album wisely covers all bases, including stars of country music (Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill), R&B (Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin, Amy Winehouse), and one-shots for rock & roll (Sheryl Crow), Latin music (Alejandro Sanz), and classical (Andrea Bocelli). Celebrity musical pairings rarely lead to innovation or excitement, but Duets II is an enjoyable celebration of what Tony Bennett has meant to pop music, and what he can bring out in any star vocalist he steps up to the microphone with.
USA Today - Steve Jones
1/2 It helps that Bennett is such a gracious collaborator whose style seems to work with whomever he's sharing the mike. And while the material is classic, he and his partners give the impression that singing together is a genuine pleasure.
The Associated Press - Charles J. Gans
Tony Bennett is as timeless as the songs he sings on "Duets II," which should put him back on the charts for a remarkable seventh straight decade.... At 85, Bennett remains a hip role model able to bring out the best in his colleagues without compromising his standards.
The Guardian - Hermione Hoby
Bennett's latest sounds like a fantasy birthday party in full swing, one where an outrageously starry array of guests share the mic with a host as twinkling as ever.
Daily Telegraph - Helen Brown
It’s a heart-warming who’s who. But something different happens between Bennett and Winehouse, who always said she was a jazz singer at heart. He seems to lean forward for the first time, engaging not just indulging. She sings into the song for its own sake, unlike the other performances which are delivered with a showbiz wink to the camera.
Reuters - Chris Willman
Lady Gaga is a perfectly engaging vamp on the album's opener, "Lady Is a Tramp," and Norah Jones' participation in "Speak Low" adds up to nothing short of autumnal sublimity. But it's Winehouse's last will and testament, "Body and Soul," that's the album's serious keeper.
Newsday - Glenn Gamboa
When Aretha Franklin arrives for "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" you can hear how the two legends push each other to bring their A-games to hold the spotlight both separately and together in the thrilling climax. It's a marvel among many marvels on Bennett's "Duets II," raising the project beyond clever marketing and turning it into an artistic gem.

Tony Bennett is as timeless as the songs he sings on "Duets II," which should put him back on the charts for a remarkable seventh straight decade.... At 85, Bennett remains a hip role model able to bring out the best in his colleagues without compromising his standards.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 9/20/2011
  • Label: Sony
  • UPC: 886976625320
  • Catalog Number: 766253
  • Sales rank: 437

Tracks

Disc 1
  1. 1 The Lady Is a Tramp - Lady Gaga (3:18)
  2. 2 One For My Baby (And One More For the Road) - John Mayer (2:58)
  3. 3 Body and Soul - Amy Winehouse (3:23)
  4. 4 Don't Get Around Much Anymore - Michael Bublé (2:41)
  5. 5 Blue Velvet - k.d. lang (4:35)
  6. 6 How Do You Keep the Music Playing - Aretha Franklin & Tony Bennett (5:28)
  7. 7 The Girl I Love - Sheryl Crow (3:53)
  8. 8 On the Sunny Side of the Street - Willie Nelson & Tony Bennett (2:57)
  9. 9 Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me) - Queen Latifah (3:53)
  10. 10 Speak Low - Norah Jones (3:56)
  11. 11 This Is All I Ask - Josh Groban (4:36)
  12. 12 Watch What Happens - Tony Bennett & Natalie Cole (2:09)
  13. 13 Stranger in Paradise - Andrea Bocelli (5:03)
  14. 14 The Way You Look Tonight - Faith Hill (3:55)
  15. 15 Yesterday I Heard the Rain - Alejandro Sanz (3:44)
  16. 16 It Had To Be You - Carrie Underwood (3:51)
  17. 17 When Do the Bells Ring for Me - Mariah Carey (2:54)
  18. 18 [CD-ROM Track]
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Album Credits

Performance Credits
Tony Bennett Primary Artist
Arturo Sandoval Trumpet, Soloist
Diane Barere Celli
Elena Barere Violin, Concert Master
Bud Burridge Trumpet
Jorge Calandrelli Conductor
Stephanie Cummins Celli
Karen Dreyfus Viola
Larry Farrell Tenor Trombone
Lawrence Feldman Alto Saxophone
David Finck Bass
Gordon Gottlieb Percussion
Ronald Janelli Baritone Saxophone
Harold Jones Drums
Tony Kadleck Trumpet
Karen Karlsrud Violin
Jeanne LeBlanc Celli
Ann Leathers Violin
Richard Locker Celli
Lou Marini Alto Saxophone
Bob Millikan Trumpet
Yurika Mok Violin
Lee Musiker Piano, Musical Direction
Keith O'Quinn Tenor Trombone
John Owens Trumpet
Lorenza Ponce Violin
Carol Pool Violin
Roger Rosenberg Baritone Saxophone
Gray Sargent Guitar
Pamela Sklar Flute, Piccolo
Andy Snitzer Tenor Saxophone
Marshall Wood Bass
Avril Brown Violin
Diane Lesser English Horn, Oboe
Craig Mumm Viola
Mark Phaneuf Tenor Saxophone
Monica Gerard Viola
Yuri Vodovoz Violin
Dave Mann Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone
Charles Pillow Clarinet, Bass Clarinet
Laura McGinnis Violin
Grace Paradise Harp
Nancy Wu Violin
Marc Goldberg Bassoon
Adrian Benjamin Viola
Cornelius Dufallo Violin
George Flynn Bass Trombone
Jonathan Dinklage Violin
David Gold Viola
Katherine Fink Flute, Piccolo
Matthew Lehmann Violin
Katherine Fong Violin
Sean Carney Violin
Desiree Elsevier Viola
Entcho Todorov Violin
Todd Low Viola
Wen Qian Violin
Judy Witmer Viola
Barbara Jostlein French Horn
Katherine Livolsi Violin
Una Tone Violin
Mike Davis Tenor Trombone
Yoon Kwon Violin
Dave Eggar Celli
Alissa Smith Viola
Catherine Sim Violin
Liz Lim-Dutton Violin
Ben Herman Percussion
Vincent Lionti Viola
Philip Myers French Horn
Tim Cobb Bass
Marion Evans Conductor
Erik Charlston Percussion
Charlie Pillow Tenor Saxophone
Bob Carlisle French Horn
Ann Scherer French Horn
Ellen Westermann Celli
Xiao-Done Wang Violin
Thomas Jostlein French Horn
Shirien Taylor Donahue Violin
Sanguen Eanet Violin
Ming Feng Hsin Violin
Technical Credits
George Gershwin Composer
Kurt Weill Composer
Gordon Jenkins Composer
Michel Legrand Composer
Rob Mounsey Composer
Gene Lees Composer
Jimmy McHugh Composer
Harold Arlen Composer
Richard Rodgers Composer
Ogden Nash Composer
Armando Manzanero Composer
Jerome Kern Composer
Dae Bennett Producer, Engineer
Danny Bennett Executive Producer
Alan Bergman Composer
Marilyn Bergman Composer
Leslie Bricusse Composer
Jorge Calandrelli Arranger
Jacques Demy Composer
Duke Ellington Composer
Dorothy Fields Composer
Ira Gershwin Composer
Norman Gimbel Composer
Lorenz Hart Composer
Edward Heyman Composer
Isham Jones Composer
Gus Kahn Composer
Bob Ludwig Mastering
Rob Mathes Composer
Johnny Mercer Composer
Anthony Newley Composer
Phil Ramone Producer
Bob Russell Composer
Bernie Wayne Composer
Tom Young Live Sound
Lee Morris Composer
Josh Cheuse Art Direction
Robert Sour Composer
Frank Eyton Composer
George Forrest Composer
Charles DeForest Composer
John Green Composer
Robert Wright Composer
Marion Evans Arranger
Phillipe Saisse Composer
Dustin Higgins Engineer
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 3.5
( 30 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(10)

4 Star

(2)

3 Star

(11)

2 Star

(3)

1 Star

(4)

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 30 Customer Reviews

  • Posted September 21, 2011

    Wow this is great!

    I have been a Tony Bennett fan for year and so I was more than curious about this CD. I was not disappointed. Such a diverse cross section of artist to team up with and each track was a treat.

    5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted September 21, 2011

    Outstanding

    This cd is absolutely fabulous...one of the best he's ever made! I cannot understand anyone giving this a negative review. I listened to each song again and again...it's just awesome!

    4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted September 24, 2011

    phenomenal!!! amazing!!!

    tony inspired me to listen to jazz music and now, im really into it. this album is uniquely amazing as it features artists from lady gaga to amy winehouse and josh groban to andrea bocelli. WE LOVE YOU TONY!!!

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 7, 2011

    Great entertainers---Great arrangements

    Just received CD. I am loving listening to it. All cuts are good.
    Lady is a Tramp is terrific. This is a CD for real music lovers.

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  • Posted October 2, 2011

    Just OK

    Some are good, some not so good. Overall good, but the track with Aretha Franklin actually hurt my ears. And I love Aretha. Very commercial, some collaberations are even off key.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted September 27, 2011

    I Also Recommend:

    Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]
    Star Wars Trilogy [6 Disc]
    Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]
    Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] [The Ultim
    Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge Of The Sith

    tony bennett is on par with metallica & megadeth

    awesome album by tony bennett!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted September 20, 2011

    not recommended------ghostly

    so old! voice sounds like it's coming from buried coffin

    0 out of 18 people found this review helpful.

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