Benny Goodman Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert

AMG Review of Benny Goodman Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

One of the greatest concerts ever captured on record is in itself a turning point in the way jazz is judged by outsiders. Never before had a full jazz concert been held at Carnegie Hall; it is hard to believe that tapes of this momentous event were kept in a closet, forgotten until rediscovered by accident in 1950. There are many many high points, including exciting versions of "Don't Be That Way" and "One O'Clock Jump," a tribute to the 20 years of jazz that were then on record; a jam-session version of "Honeysuckle Rose," which found sidemen of the orchestras of Duke Ellington and Count Basie interacting with Goodman's stars; exciting performances by the Trio and Quartet; and, of course, "Sing, Sing, Sing" with Gene Krupa's creative (if not too subtle) drumming and Jess Stacy's remarkable ad lib piano solo. Fortunately, this program has been reissued in full on CD and it belongs in every serious music library, capturing Benny Goodman and the swing era in general at its height.