Best of the Yale Archives 1936-86

Read About This Recording

In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman earned the title of "The King of Swing®" due to his success launching the Swing era, his brilliant clarinet playing and his leadership of the #1 swing orchestra of the time. His famous band of 1935-38, which at its zenith featured trumpeters Harry James and Ziggy Elman, drummer Gene Krupa, flawless ensemble work by the other musicians and exciting playing by Krupa, pianist Teddy Wilson and vibraphonist Lionel Hampton in the Benny Goodman Quartet, was highly influential, setting the standard for swing bands. Even though Goodman was soon challenged by the big bands of Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, Glenn Miller and Harry James, he was considered "The King of Swing®" up until the time of his 1986 death.

Goodman was actually one of the great jazz clarinetists shortly after he made his recording debut in 1926 at the age of 17. Periods with the bands of Ben Pollack and Red Nichols preceded his time as a top studio clarinetist during the worst years of the Depression. He became bored with the lucrative but unsatisfying music and, in 1934, formed his first big band. After a year of struggle, he hit it big and he is still a household name today, more than two decades after his passing.

Benny Goodman recorded regularly throughout his career but there were many sessions unreleased during his lifetime. Shortly before his death, he donated a series of recordings to Yale University. Over time, a dozen sets were released. While some of the selections were from the 1930s, the wide-ranging program reached all the way up to 1986.

Best of the Complete Yale Archives is a two-CD set that draws its 26 performances from many of the sessions. The emphasis is on famous standards, with Goodman performing fresh variations on such numbers as "Sing, Sing, Sing," "King Porter Stomp," "Don't Be That Way," "That's a Plenty," "Air Mail Special" and "Stompin' At The Savoy." Whether featured in a big band or in all-star combos, Goodman shows that in the 1950s and '60s, he was frequently in inspired form, swinging hard on the music that he loved most.

—Scott Yanow

Contents

Exclusive!

Sing, Sing, Sing; Sweet Georgia Brown; King Porter Stomp; Indian Summer; Bei Mir Bist Du Schon; Sometimes I'm Happy; Embraceable You; Nice Work If You Can Get It; Autumn Nocturne; All The Things You Are; East of the Sun (West of the Moon); Don't Be That Way; That's A-Plenty; Three Little Words; Air Mail Special; Benny Rides Again; It's All Right With Me; Splanky; Blue Skies; Just One of Those Things; Who Cares; Someone to Watch Over Me; One O'clock Jump; Stompin' At The Savoy; The Dixieland Band; Dear Old Southland.

Benny Goodman with Herbie Hancock, Zoot Sims, Jimmy Rushing, his original Quartet and many others.