Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga “Cheek to Cheek” is a Likely Contender For Album Of The Year

By Kara Michelle Sep 25, 2014 08:23 AM EDT

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga "Cheek to Cheek" is a Likely Contender For Album Of The Year

Cheek to Cheek, the collaborative album by 88-year-old Tony Bennett and 28-year-old Lady Gaga (Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta) advance release was generally favorably received by critics and music reviewers. MTV's Gil Kaufman says "the pair sound like a match made in heaven. They flawlessly merge their unique styles and show off a charming in-studio rapport that totally translates to the collection of jazz and pop vocal standards." Marc Myers writing for the Wall Street Journal observed that "the biggest surprise on the album is Gaga's solo vocal on Billy Strayhorn's ballad "Lush Life," a difficult song that has troubled even the most seasoned jazz-pop singers, including Frank Sinatra." Troy Smith of the Ohio Northeast Media Group thinks Cheek to Cheek "will likely be a contender for Album of the Year come Grammy night."

At yesterday's album-release party at the Belgium Jazz Club L'Archiduc following her concert with Tony Bennett at the Grand Place in Brussels, Lady Gaga tweeted to her 42.3 million followers: "Popping Champagne and counting down till #CheekToCheek Me, Starlight, my trumpet player Brian, Steve on Sax. We've been friends for almost ten years, and boy have these Rivington Rebels come far. Our <3 still burning strong, while we basque in the glow of legendary Mr. Tony Bennett."The album, which may be officially released by Interscope Records today, carries eleven all-time jazz favorites "Anything Goes," "Cheek to Cheek," "Nature Boy," "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," "I Won't Dance," "Firefly," "Lush Life,""Sophisticated Lady," "Let's Face the Music and Dance," "But Beautiful," and "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing." The iTunes bonus edition will in addition have the songs "Let's Face the Music and Dance," "But Beautiful." "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)," and "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)."