Tony Bennett has compared Lady Gaga to
Ella Fitzgerald, also known as the “Queen of Jazz.”
Fitzgerald won 13 Grammy Awards over
the course of her 59-year recording career. President Ronald Reagan
awarded her the National Medal of Arts.
Bennett discussed the documentary The
Zen of Bennett, now on DVD, in an interview with CNN.
In the film, Bennett reflects back over
his 60 year career.
“Your documentary takes place as
you're really recording the second duets album,” correspondent
Soledad O'Brien says. “Have you loved doing those duets? I mean,
you have one where you're performing with Lady Gaga. We see it in
the documentary. What was she like?”
“Extremely talented,” Bennett
answers. “She's a beautiful singer. I know how popular she is
right now. She plays to 40,000 people a night. But she really has a
magnificent voice. I think they're going to find out she's right up
there with Ella Fitzgerald. She's a very good singer.”
Of the late Amy Winehouse, Bennett
said: “She was an authentic great jazz singer. Of all the
contemporary singers I ever met, she was the most talented one. She
was a true jazz singer.” (The video is embedded on this page.
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