On Monday (March 24), Jazz at Lincoln Center revealed the host for its upcoming all-star tribute to the late legend Tony Bennett, which serves as the center's annual gala fundraiser. Tony-nominated, Billboard 200-topping singer-actor Josh Groban is set to host the April 17 event even at Frederick P. Rose Hall in Manhattan's Lincoln Center.
The evening, titled Celebrating Tony Bennett, will honor the great jazz vocalist and raise money for Jazz at Lincoln Center, with items from Tony Bennett's personal collection up for auction. Wynton Marsalis, managing director and artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, will lead the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra throughout the evening, with Rubén Blades, Bernadette Peters, Kristin Chenoweth, Norm Lewis, Kurt Elling, Ekep Nkwelle , Robbie Lee and Shenel Johns to provide vocal performances. Jazz pianist Bill Charlap will also appear, in addition to the award for artistic excellence. Tim Jackson, former artistic director of the Monterey Jazz festival, and Randall Kline, founder of SFJAZZ, will receive the Ed Bradley Award for Jazz Leadership at the April 17 gala. You can find more information about the festive celebration on the site of the organization Website.
During his incredibly long career, Tony Bennett helped define what it meant to be a performer of the Great American Songbook, bridging jazz, pop, Broadway and Tin Pan Alley with his elegant, smooth phrasing. Working with jazz giants from Count Basie to Bill Evans, Bennett continued to strike gold during the last decade of his career, recording two albums with Lady Gaga (Cheek to cheek in 2014? Love for sale in 2021) and one with Diana Krall (Love is here to stay in 2018) before dying aged 96 in July 2023. Although diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2016, Bennett continued to perform and release music until 2021, ending his touring career with a concert at Radio City Music Hall with partner and devotee Lady Gaga in August 2021.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/concerts/josh-groban-tony-bennett-jazz-lincoln-center-1235640844/
