Jazz
Recorded between 1935 and 1939
Benny Goodman (clarinet)
Lionel Hampton (vocals, vibraphone, drums); Helen Ward, Martha Tilton (vocals); Ziggy Elman (trumpet); Teddy Wilson, Jess Stacy (piano); John Kirby (bass); Gene Krupa, Dave Tough, Buddy Schutz (drums)
All the basically recordings made by the "King of Swing".
Clarinetist Benny Goodman not only led one of the most influential big bands in the world, he ushered the "small combo" movement into jazz. This two-disc collection contains 47 groundbreaking songs taken from 1935-1939. Made up of trio and quartet dates, plus a few scattered vocal tracks, this compilation contains some remarkable moments in jazz history.
"China Boy" is an up-tempo classic that features the incomparable stride piano skills of Teddy Wilson, as well the agile brush work of drummer Gene Krupa, while "Sugar" presents a tricky melody that is played with precision and ease by both Goodman and vibraphonist Lionel Hampton. Goodman's highly chromatic solo also hints at the bebop revolution that lay just around the corner. In general, there is wonderful interplay heard on both discs, and the group dynamic is never limited by the absence of a bass player. This is truly innovative and timeless music.
Clarinetist Benny Goodman not only led one of the most influential big bands in the world, he ushered the "small combo" movement into jazz. This two-disc collection contains 47 groundbreaking songs taken from 1935-1939. Made up of trio and quartet dates, plus a few scattered vocal tracks, this compilation contains some remarkable moments in jazz history.
"China Boy" is an up-tempo classic that features the incomparable stride piano skills of Teddy Wilson, as well the agile brush work of drummer Gene Krupa, while "Sugar" presents a tricky melody that is played with precision and ease by both Goodman and vibraphonist Lionel Hampton. Goodman's highly chromatic solo also hints at the bebop revolution that lay just around the corner. In general, there is wonderful interplay heard on both discs, and the group dynamic is never limited by the absence of a bass player. This is truly innovative and timeless music.
In so many ways these small-group recordings by bandleader and clarinetist extraordinaire Benny Goodman from 1935-1939 are his most satisfying. Here, along with pianist Teddy Wilson and drummer Gene Krupa, Goodman got to the essence of his trademark brand of hot swing. The first four sides here are with that trio and they are simply glorious. As the years passed, Goodman added and subtracted members, who included vocalists Helen Humes and Martha Tilton, Lionel Hampton, drummer Dave Tough, bassist John Kirby, and others, but the effect was largely the same -- though perhaps not as intense as with the original trio and quartet with Hampton. The sides collected here, all 47 of them, are uniform in their freshness, stunning chart originality, and musical execution. While the package is not big on liner notes, all the necessary personnel information is included session by session, and the sound of the 24-bit digital master is superior to the RCA version of the same set -- and the price is better on this import.
---Thom Jurek, All Music Guide |
