A collaboration between master of jazz Tony Bennett and flamboyant pop artist Lady Gaga seems unlikely. Bennett’s suave style and sophistication stands in stark contrast with Gaga’s passionately aggressive approach to modern pop.
Throughout her musical career, however, Gaga has shown an appreciation for jazz. Stripping Gaga’s voice from the club anthem-like nature of her songs showcases this — her beautiful vocal expression and phrasing proving more classically trained than one might expect.
It is a positive thing, then, that these seemingly disparate worlds collided when Bennett's and Gaga's album "Cheek to Cheek" dropped last month.
Overall, the collaboration is full of fresh spirit and playfulness. The daring and energetic duo reworks standards once left to silver-fox crooners with spunky interplay. The sauntering songs create an easy listening experience, perfect for sipping tea on a cold rainy Sunday.
The album, effortlessly rich when pairing the artists' softer sides, also has moments which bring forth Gaga’s formidable voice more evident in her solo work. Indeed, Mother Monster’s undeniable vocal strength occasionally overpowers Bennett’s largely relaxed demeanor. On the collection’s title track, their voices conflict, with Gaga piercing through Bennett’s calming, understated charm.
In “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love,” however, Gaga’s nuanced vocals shine over the swanky, cool beat of the electric organ and soft bassline. Though she seems desperate to have the final hurrah — singing over Bennett to close out the track — the duo has real chemistry overall, with the breezy swinging tunes of jazz making for an honest final product.
Though lacking the flashy glittery pop which has come to define Lady Gaga, the album showcases her vocal finesse and spirit — offering an ultimately enjoyable, albeit inconsistent, listening experience.
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