Nick Messitte
Forbes Music Critic, Brooklyn
@NickMessitte
In the fall of 2014, it would seem, another stunt might have the possibility of pushing Jazz into the mainstream again—at least, it would, if it didn’t feel so much like a stunt: Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett have made an album of Jazz standards entitled Cheek to Cheek.
The Jazz trumpet player Nicholas Peyton, one of the few higher-profile spokesmen for the medium, has a withering reply:
“The album has the nerve to be called Cheek to Cheek. How apropos for two people making an *ss out of themselves caricaturizing [sic] black music. All due respect to Bennett, but he’s never been a great. He was just lucky enough to outlive all the true greats of his era.”
Bennett can sing, but Peyton’s right—he’s no Sinatra.
I’ve given Cheek to Cheek several listens now—as many as I could force-feed myself.
Harmonies grate on each other because Gaga is too loud or Bennett is too pitchy, or often enough, both.
Love duets begin to feel stranger, more uncomfortable, when you consider the age disparities of these two performers, clearly evident in the timbre of their voices: much of this album feels like watching an ugly-but-rich man trying to pick up a beautiful-but-money-obsessed eighteen year old at a house-party: off-putting, vulgar, grimace-inducing.
I wouldn't agree if it was just gaga doing her thing with a jazz album.
Secondly I second my agreement because ANY song Tony sings or covers has already sounded better by someone else, which is quite sad!! He's a nice old man though.
I disagree with the racism though.
Stealing jazz from black people lmao?!?!?!?!?!?
I read both parts earlier. It was an interesting read, but he kept going on and on about sound mixing, and even found ways to downplay the good parts of C2C. He called "Lush Life" "annoyingly, technically perfect" ffs.
That said, I did tweet him asking for his opinion on Bang Bang (MBSMD) and I Won't Dance.
Love duets begin to feel stranger, more uncomfortable, when you consider the age disparities of these two performers, clearly evident in the timbre of their voices: much of this album feels like watching an ugly-but-rich man trying to pick up a beautiful-but-money-obsessed eighteen year old at a house-party: off-putting, vulgar, grimace-inducing.
Vile
And if it's a stunt, I'm glad the effort to pull that stunt is paying off
"contributor" And also a rock fan. Please... Vin sis.
edit: just went through his articles, you should follow the suit and decide for yourself if this is a level-headed, unbiased, person criticizing a pop artist.
I force-fed myself those articles (it has two parts ) yesterday. It's a feast of over-analyzing something beyond the point of nonsense and self-mockery of the author himself. It's like the album sounds so good it makes him angry.
And also a rock fan. Please... Vin sis. 
