The Zen of Bennett : A Tribute to Tony Bennett // Film + Live Music by the Larry McDonough Trio
Sunday, November 26, 2023
6 pm Doors // 7 pm Music + Screening
$10 Advance General Admission // $15 At The Door
All Ages
Ticket Purchases are Final and Non-Refundable
A tribute to legendary jazz singer Tony Bennett!
Renowned Twin Cities jazz ensemble the Larry McDonough Trio kicks off the night with a live set of material by Tony Bennett and fellow jazz legend Bill Evans, followed by a screening of the acclaimed documentary film The Zen of Bennett (2012, 94 min, directed by Unjoo Moon), an intimate portrait of the artist's creative process set on the eve of Bennett's 85th birthday and featuring scenes from his recording sessions for Duets II, performing with Lady Gaga, Amy Winehouse, Aretha Franklin, Andrea Bocelli, John Mayer, Willie Nelson and others.
Tony Bennett was an American jazz and traditional pop singer. He received many accolades, including 20 Grammy Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award, and two Primetime Emmy Awards. Bennett was named an NEA Jazz Master and a Kennedy Center Honoree and founded the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Astoria, Queens, New York. He sold more than 50 million records worldwide and earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His highlights include fame with "Because of You" in 1951 and I Left My Heart in San Francisco" in 1962, and collaborations with Bill Evans, Aretha Franklin, Willie Nelson, Queen Latifah, Lady Gaga, Carrie Underwood, and Amy Winehouse. He died at his home in New York City on July 21, 2023, following a seven-year battle with Alzheimer's disease.
Larry McDonough is an award-winning St. Paul jazz composer, pianist, singer, and teacher, performing around the world and recording with his group the Larry McDonough Quartet as well as solo, and in duos and trios. He has performed with legendary saxophonist and composer Benny Golson, trombonist Fred Wesley, and trumpeter Duane Eubanks, as well as a who’s who of local jazz artists, and was inducted into the Minnesota Rock Country Hall of Fame for his work in the group Danny’s Reasons. His awards include the American Composers Forum Showcase Award for the composition Strait of Gibraltar. He has released eleven CDs and DVDs as a leader. When not playing jazz, he performs punk in Saint Small, funk in Funkin’ Right, and classic rock in Whiskey Burn.