Live at Carnegie Hall: 1938 Complete

Read About This Recording

On January 16, 1938, Benny Goodman and his orchestra had the first full-length jazz concert at the Mecca of classical music, Carnegie Hall. The King of Swing was at the height of his powers and his orchestra (which included trumpeters Harry James and Ziggy Elman, pianist Jess Stacy and drummer Gene Krupa) was the most popular in the world. In addition, Goodman's quartet (with Krupa, vibraphonist Lionel Hampton and pianist Teddy Wilson) generated both a change-of-pace and a great deal of musical excitement.

The concert instantly became legendary. Unknown to virtually everyone, it was all recorded. Goodman, who had forgotten that fact, was very surprised to find the tapes from the concert in his closet a dozen years later. With the rise of LPs, the timing was perfect, for in the early 1950s the music could be released. The two-LP set became a big-seller from the start and has been in-print ever since. Now all of the music (which includes two poorly recorded numbers formerly out on collector's labels and a few newly restored choruses that had previously been cut out) has been released on this magnificent two-CD set.

There are many highlights to the concert including a rousing version of One O'Clock Jump, Life Goes To A Party, Springtime In The Rockies and the classic Sing, Sing, Sing, featuring Krupa. The Goodman Trio and Quartet romps on such tunes as China Boy, Stompin' At The Savoy and Avalon, there is a history of jazz medley that includes spots for cornetist Bobby Hackett and several of Duke Ellington's sidemen, and a jam session version of Honeysuckle Rose with some of Ellington's players (Johnny Hodges and Harry Carney) and a few of Count Basie's musicians (Lester Young, Buck Clayton and Basie himself) plus Goodman, Harry James and Gene Krupa.

Benny Goodman's 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert is essential for every jazz and music collection and contains some of the most exciting swing performances of all time.

-Scott Yanow

Contents

Benny Goodman 1950 Introduction; Don't Be That Way; Sometimes I'm Happy; One O'Clock Jump; Applause: Transition to 20 Yrs. of Jazz; Sensation Rag; I'm Coming Virginia; When My Baby Smiles at Me; Shine; Blue Reverie; Applause:Transition Back to Orch.; Life Goes To A Party; Setting Up For Jam Session; Honeysuckle Rose; Applause: Setting Up & Tuning Up; Body and Soul; Applause as Lionel Hampton Enters; Avalon; The Man I Love; I Got Rhythm; Pause Track; Blue Skies; Loch Lomond; Applause: B. Goodman's No Encore; Blue Room; Swingtime in the Rockies; Applause: Martha Tilton returns to stage; Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen; Applause:Setting-Up for BG Small Groups; China Boy; Stompin' At The Savoy; Applause:BG Quartet Continues; Dizzy Spells; Applause: Transition back to Goodman Orch; Sing, Sing, Sing (with a Swing); Applause Until Encores; If Dreams Come True; Applause For Second Encore; Big John's Special; Pause Track; B.Goodman 1950 Tune by Tune Intro; Introduction; Don't Be That Way; Twenty Years of Jazz; Blue Reverie; Life Goes To A Party; Body and Soul; Avalon; Swingtime in the Rockies; Conclusion.

Harry James, Cootie Williams, Trumpets; Count Basie, Teddy Wilson, Pianos; Gene Krupa, Drums; Lionel Hampton, Vibes; Bobby Hackett, Cornet; Benny Goodman, Clarinet.

CD Special Features

• 2-CD set jazz masterpiece

• The groundbreaking live jazz event of the century!

• 5 bonus tracks added!

• New sound sources discovered! • Features Count Basie, Harry James, Lionel Hampton, Teddy Wilson, Johnny Hodges, Lester Young, Buck Clayton, Cootie Williams, Harry Carney and many others!

• Stunning, previously unpublished photos from the great night.

• Features reprint of Carnegie Hall program from performance.

• Old liners reprinted; new liners by Phil Schaap & arranger Turk Van Lake

• 20-Bit digitally remastered from long-lost acetates!