Customer Reviews

Complete Capitol Trios

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

We take Benny Goodman for granted. He's forever carved in our collective conscience as a heavyweight big band leader, Carnegie Hall concert innovator, color barrier breaker etc. All well and good. But he was a tremendous virtuoso clarinetist and I think we sometimes forget that. This collection of late 40's/mid 50's trios with Teddy Wilson, Jimmy Rowles, or Mel Powell on piano and a revolving set of brush men showcases, as the original small group recordings did earlier, that Goodman had an inexhaustable sense of invention and creativity when it comes to playing jazz standards "all the livelong day". Not to mention flawless technique, endurance and range. You'll wear it out.

This is a very good collection featuring fabulous musicians of the swing era coming very close to achieving the improvisational style of later bop players. The various trios are all extraordinarily tight but I especially like the cuts featuring Teddy Wilson on Piano. Benny Goodman reached an astounding level of virtuosity and it is more readily heard here than in any other format. I love this music and highly recommend this cd to anyone curious enough to be reading this.

The paformances in this album are ,of course,not the acme of Benny's recordings.I think that they are good paformances indeed,but never have the thrill and tention which you would hear in 1935-1938 paformances of Benny. But I recomend you to listen this album for these three pianists,Teddy Wilson,Jimmy Rowles and Mel Powell--especially Jimmy Rowles's piano-play.Jimmy's play in this album is a sort of traditional swing style piano compared with his play in later years.Compared with the other pianists in this album,Jimmy's left hand(bass-line figure) is less active, but has a good-taste with more delicasy that leads to the musical effects containing moderate relaxation and tension simultaniously.As to Benny,his clarinet tone is more mellow than that of 1930's,and matchs better with his trio format without bass-violin.Anyway,enjoy the tactful skills and tasteful music of these traditional swing pianists with BG.

this is a must have. I don't care if it's "an essential" on anyone's list, it's one on mine. The cuts are all extraordinarily great. The band members are all here, as far as "must listens" are concerned. The two versions of "I'll Never Dream of You," and the cut of "I'll Never Be the Same" are worth buying the CD in the first place. If ever there were a musician who made a huge impression wherever he set his stompin foot down on a stage, anytime, anywhere, Benny would be my candidate. He had it all. Melody, Talent, Ear
for a chord...ability to attract other talent.

There are musicians for certain eras. Mr Goodman might go down as the historical mystical minnesinger of his. ThIs CD would certainly lend that particular moniker credence!

BEK

This is a thoroughly enjoyable CD of Benny's post-WWII work with trios. Benny, of course, was a virtuoso clarinet player and the accompanying musicians are all fantastic.
The tunes on this CD are all old-fashioned (pre-war) jazz and don't reflect the trends in modern jazz that were taking place at the time by such musicians as Thelonius Monk, Miles Davis, John Coltrane etc. But that shouldn't deter you from giving this great CD a listen.
There are minimal liner notes and the remastered sound is excellent.

Goodman could sound mechanical and harsh at times, but his playing has an intensity and drivej like no other. Also there is a sense of his reaching places that no one else could reach with the clarinet.
For those who love the clarinet sound this is a must - have - record.

The end of WWII also saw the demise of Big Band Swing, with the likes of Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey and a host of other great band leaders, trimming down to smaller groups. Benny in fact, had recorded with trios, quartets and sextets since the mid 30's, becoming extremely popular, releasing many hits on a regular basis.

Benny continued with this practice from the late 40's, linking with Count Basie, Teddy Wilson, Lionel Hampton and many more. Tracks contained in this CD, I consider to be collector's items. Many of the songs listed, were originally released in the mid 30's and the advancement in technology during that period, is clearly evident.

Michael Wilkinson, Sydney/Australia 2005

I love this cd! It reminds me of COCO CHANNEL and the times she lived in.
The care free 1930's and early 40's france before the nazis invaded it.

ive listened to a lot of benny goodman and i like him especialy with charlie christian. this cd i find a bit flat and lifeless though. his playing has lost its easy fluidity to my ears compaired to his earlier stuff

Benny Goodman made the clarinet cool.

He was a genious, as you can see from this set of songs.