Benny Goodman: Small Group-Classic Jazz Archive

Read About This Recording

Benny Goodman deserved to be known as "The King of Swing®." Although he did not invent swing music, nor was his band the first to play it (Fletcher Henderson was playing swing back in 1925), the success of Goodman's big band at the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles in mid-1935 launched the Swing Era.

Benny Goodman was a major clarinetist by late-1926 when, as a 17-year-old, he took his first recorded solos as a sideman with Ben Pollack's orchestra. He already had a sound of his own although he would continue to grow in individuality through the years. Goodman became greatly in demand for jazz dates and, during the early Depression years, he was a busy studio musician even though he was not very fond of the commercial music. Following his giant success in 1935, Goodman had the most popular big band in the world until he was challenged by Artie Shaw in 1938. Benny Goodman would always be a household name and a major attraction during the remainder of his long life.

This two-CD set from the Classic Jazz Archive series sums up important periods in Goodman's career. Small Group Recordings has all of the studio recordings by the Benny Goodman Trio and Quartet from its beginning in 1936 through early 1939. Vibraphonist Lionel Hampton, pianist Teddy Wilson and drummer Gene Krupa are well featured with Goodman while the later selections have Dave Tough on drums and on a quintet date, bassist John Kirby. The 48 performances include "After You've Gone," "China Boy," "Moonglow," "Dinah," "Avalon," "Handful of Keys" and all of the well-loved performances by the classic group.

Swing fans can consider these two discs to be essential.

—Scott Yanow

Quotes

"If a guy's got it, let him give it. I'm selling music, not prejudice." —Benny Goodman

Contents

Imported from Europe!

CD 1—Stompin' At the Savoy: After You've Gone; Body and Soul (Takes 1 & 2); Who?; Someday, Sweetheart; China Boy; More Than You Know; All My Life; Oh, Lady Be Good; Nobody's Sweetheart; Too Good to Be True; Moonglow; Dinah; Exactly Like You; Vibraphone Blues; Sweet Sue, Just You; My Melancholy Baby; Tiger Rag (Takes 1 & 2); Stompin' At the Savoy (Takes 1 & 2); Whispering; Ida! Sweet As Apple Cider; Tea for Two.

CD 2—Opus 1 & 2: Runnin' Wild; Avalon; Handful of Keys; The Man I Love; Smiles; Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away); Where or When; Silhouetted in the Moonlight; Vieni, Vieni, Vieni; I'm a Ding Dong Daddy (From Dumas); Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen; Sweet Lorraine; The Blues in Your Flat (Take 1); The Blues in My Flat; Sugar (That Sugar Baby of Mine); Dizzy Spells; Opus 1 & 2; I Must Have That Man; Sweet Georgia Brown; 'S Wonderful; Pick-a-Rib (Part 1); I Cried for You; I Know That You Know; Opus 3 & 4.

Benny Goodman, Clarinet; Teddy Wilson, Jess Stacy, Pianos; John Kirby, Bass; Gene Krupa, Dave Tough, Buddy Schultz, Drums; Lionel Hampton, Vibes/Vocals; Helen Ward, Martha Tilton, Vocals; Benny Goodman Trio; Benny Goodman Quartet; Benny Goodman Quintet.

Includes 20-page book.