Redtree Times

Jubilee Waltz– At the West End Gallery

She was ready to deny the existence of space and time rather than admit that love might not be eternal.

—Simone de Beauvoir, The Mandarins (1954)

While I wanted to share another painting from my current West End Gallery show I couldn’t end this week without taking notice that Tony Bennett had died this week at the age of 96.

He was the ultimate interpreter of the Great American songbook. There’s a lot to be said about him and his music, most of which has been said in the last few days. I very much enjoyed his music, which was enhanced by his constant smile and evident geniality. Never read or heard a word from anyone that spoke ill of the man in any way.

The world will miss Tony Bennett.

For this week’s Sunday Morning Music, I am featuring one of my favorite renditions, among many, from Mr. Bennett was from his 1993 album, Steppin’ Out. It was a tribute album to the songs performed by Fred Astaire in his films and the song selected, He Loves and She Loves, was from his 1957 film with Audrey Hepburn, Funny Face. The film was an adaptation of a George Gershwin stage musical that Astaire, along with his sister, Adele, had starred in when it premiered in 1927. The film and the play are not alike in any way, having completely different plotlines. They do, however share four songs, one of which is He Loves and She Loves.

It’s probably not a song you’ve heard a lot and I’m sure it wasn’t one that was played to mark Mr. Bennett’s death, but it remains one of my favorites by him. Plus, it seems to work well with the painting from the West End show shown here, Jubilee Waltz, one of my Baucis & Philemon pieces.

Give a listen and see for yourself.