Carnegie Hall Jazz Concerts

AMG Review of Carnegie Hall Jazz Concerts

Bruce Eder
All Music Guide

Under the copyright laws of most European countries, the Benny Goodman Carnegie Hall concert of Jan. 16, 1938 is public domain, so there are several unauthorized versions of the renowned show out there. Obviously, they only duplicate the existing Columbia double-CD (which reportedly is due for reissue in 1998, remastered off the original 78 rpm transcription discs in 20-bit digital sound), but this set offers something extra -- disc two contains nine Benny Goodman numbers from the band's second Carnegie Hall concert, produced by John Hammond and held 21 months later. The sound is stunning by any standard of the era, with hardly a trace of noise. The numbers, in addition to tighter, more confident versions of "Don't Be That Way," "One O'Clock Jump," and "Sing, Sing, Sing," include "Sunrise Serenade," "Bach Goes to Town," and "T'Ain't What You Do" (the latter sung by Goodman) by the full orchestra. "The Sheik of Araby" is performed by the Goodman Trio (Goodman with Fletcher Henderson on piano and Lionel Hampton on the drums), and "Flying Home" and "Stardust" (the latter featuring a sizzling Charlie Christian electric guitar workout) by the sextet (Christian, Art Bernstein, and Nick Fatool joining the trio). By that time Gene Krupa was long gone from the lineup, a was Harry James, but this was still a band to marvel at.