"Bennett Sings Ellington/Hot and Cool" Set for September 28 Release On RPM Records/Columbia.

NEW YORK--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Aug. 4, 1999--

Radio City Entertainment Presents

Tony Bennett to Perform

a One-Night-Only Salute to Duke Ellington

At NYC's Legendary Carnegie Hall 

On Wednesday, October 6.

Tickets for Tony Bennett's Carnegie Hall Performance on Sale Monday,

August 9

Tony Bennett continues his rich legacy of themed album projects and will close this century with a glorious tribute to Duke Ellington in honor of the composer's Centennial Anniversary with "BENNETT SINGS ELLINGTON/HOT AND COOL," in stores on September 28 on RPM Records/Columbia. Recorded at the Hit Factory, the album captures this legendary eight-time Grammy winner at his very best, singing a "hot and cool" collection of Ellington's swing tunes and romantic ballads backed in the studio by a big band and string orchestra respectively.

Featuring the Ralph Sharon Quartet, Bennett is joined on several of the recording's 14 tracks by three guest artists: trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, trombonist Al Grey and Juilliard String Quartet violinist Joel Smirnoff. As jazz writer Nat Hentoff comments in the album's liner notes, "Tony Bennett, because of his deep respect and affection for Ellington, plays himself here, but with great care to keep the spirit as well as the indelible signature of Duke's music." Bennett has always considered Ellington "America's premiere classical composer," and the two were good friends. Bennett recalls that whenever Duke wrote a new song "he would send over a dozen roses to mark the occasion." Renowned jazz photographer Herman Leonard documented these historic recording sessions and his classic portraits of Bennett are beautifully displayed on the record's cover art. Leonard's portraits and a sketch of Ellington by Bennett, also part of the album's packaging, add up to create a collector's item for this century and the next.

"BENNETT SINGS ELLINGTON/HOT AND COOL," will be released jointly on Columbia Records and RPM records, a newly established joint venture with Sony Music headed up by Danny Bennett, the singer's son and manager.

Nearly thirty years after he became the first pop singer to perform as a solo artist at New York City's Carnegie Hall, Radio City Entertainment presents Tony Bennett's return to the legendary theatre for a special, one-night-only engagement celebrating Duke Ellington and his music on Wednesday, October 6. Tickets for the concert will go on sale Monday, August 9 at 11am and are priced at $75, $60, $50, $45, and $30. Tickets can be purchased at the Carnegie Hall Box office or by calling Carnegie Charge by Phone: [phone] or through Ticketmaster: 212-307-7171. Joining Bennett on stage will the Ralph Sharon Quartet. Showtime is at 8pm.

Tony Bennett's one-night-only performance is presented by Radio City Entertainment, a part of the Cablevision family of companies and managed by Madison Square Garden, is a worldwide entertainment company recognized for its signature combination of event production and entertainment marketing. Radio City Entertainment presents and promotes live entertainment events from Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and the Theatre at Madison Square Garden. In addition, Radio City Entertainment develops events and attractions that appear nationally and internationally. Radio City Entertainment produces "A Christmas Carol" and "The Wizard of Oz," and the world-renowned "Radio City Christmas Spectacular," Broadway's "The Scarlet Pimpernel" and will serve as co-producer of the upcoming Broadway musical "Footloose."