Customer Reviews

Falling in Love With Benny Goodman

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I was falling in love with Benny Goodman 45 years ago when I was in China. Of cause at that time I didn't know who's music it was. The sound quality of this CD really impressed me. I cannot believe that the ~70 years old record can be processed to bring up such a good sound.

Benny Goodman was unofficially crowned the "King of Swing" before he was 30, due to two landmark events. The first was his August 1935 crowd crazing gig at the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles, considered by many as the official beginning of the Swing Era. Then of course in 1938, he brought his orchestra and swing music to Carnegie Hall, which is to this very day a never to be forgotten moment in music history. The song that perhaps is most often associated with Goodman is his big hit and classic "Sing, Sing, Sing", but Benny had more up his sleeve than just this one tune.

Born in Chicago on May 30, 1909, Goodman became the first great clarinetist in the history of jazz, perfected a style of playing that is still dominant to this very day. Benny was also a pioneer in the presentation of racially mixed ensembles, like African American Teddy Wilson (pianist) and Lionel Hampton (vibraphonist) were stars in his trio and quartet, they always received top billing. Goodman passed away on June 13, 1986 in New York, NY., he will be sorely missed, but his music lives on through recordings and new artists of today, passing the baton to others in the world of jazz and big band.

Total Time: 52:42 on 16 Tracks/ RCA Victor - 09026 63612 2 (2000)