Tony Bennett

Mr. Bennett, only very few people can tour and be on stage at the age of 88. To which extend it was the music that kept you young?
I happen to love what I do and I can honestly say that I feel like I have never worked a day in my life as a result. I think if you have a passion for something that keeps you in a creative zone and uses your energy in a positive way then you find that you can keep getting better over time.  I have this private goal of mine that to keep singing for as long as I can and to try to reach 100.

The Great American Songbook is full of timeless, genius melodies and lyrics. Do you think pop musicians of today are able to create pieces that are comparable to songs of Cole Porter or the Gershwins?
The music of the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s was a golden era of songwriting and as you said, there were genius composers who were all writing at the same time and creating songs of a very high quality and intelligence. Currently the emphasis is often on getting that quick hit that will make alot of money but will be forgotten in a few weeks and that can stifle creativity as what happens is everyone copies what was recently successful and tries to duplicate it.  When money trumps creativity, then art suffers.

Why aren’t there any BigBands around anymore comparable with Count Basie’s band or the ones of Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman etc.?
Here again the business of making music has gotten in the way because it has become to expensive to tour with big bands so there is no emphasis on this genre of music which is regretful to me as it was a wonderful way to spend an evening listening to the band and don’t forget it was also about dancing – you needed to also know how to do all the dances as well. That was an era when you got dressed up in your very best to go out for the evening and it felt very special – a night to remember.

When you started your career as a singer, Jazz was a lot more popular in the United States than today. Do you regret, that Jazz today became only a very small part, a niche in the musical world?
Bennett: Very much so as the creativity and expertise that it takes to be a jazz musician takes such time and effort and so many talented musicians have to give it up so they can earn a living which is terribly tragic.  One of the reasons I am so excited about working with Lady Gaga on CHEEK TO CHEEK, the jazz album we are releasing later this month is I hope that all her fans will discover the jazz and popular standards that we perform on the album and get interested in this genre of music.

We recently talked to Jazz singer José James, who said in our conversation: Nobody needs to record Gershwins „Summertime“ again, because nobody can do it as good as Ella, Billie, Sarah Vaughn etc. Do you agree?
Well that is very true – they were the best but there is always room for everyone so you never know when the next „Ella“ will come up and wow us all.

Frank Sinatra in interviews described his way of singing with the word „honest“. When you look at singing students at the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts – are they still aware of the importance of honesty?
Well at Frank Sinatra School of the arts we have students studying music, drama, dance, fine arts and film and with any art form it is essential to be honest because that is what communicated to an audience. If an audience feels that an artist is not authentic then its a turn off so Sinatra, as always, was exactly right and it was the honest way he expressed his inner psychology when he sang that made him one of a kind.

Lady Gaga was named one of the most influential people in the world by Time Magazine. How did she influence you while working with her?
I am so impressed with Lady Gaga as she is a true artist and as I mentioned before is committed to being honest and true to herself when she sings. We have so much fun in the studio together and I like to call her „Lady“ because that is what she is.

[Das Interview wurde per E-Mail geführt.]