Farewell

AMG Review of Farewell

Ken Dryden
All Music Guide

The sloppy packaging here indicates that this is Benny Goodman's last recorded live performance -- but the clarinetist lived another five years and would be recorded and videotaped on other occasions. What this combined CD/DVD represents is Goodman's final live recording in Denmark, where it was taped in 1981 at Copenhagen's Jazzhus Skulfelter for television broadcast. Goodman opens with a rhythm section -- pianist Don Haas, guitarist Harry Pepl, bassist Peter Witte, and drummer Charly Antolini -- and sticks to familiar standards. When trumpeter Jimmy Maxwell, the only regular Goodman collaborator on this small-group club date, joins the band, Goodman promptly sits out to give him the spotlight for "I'm Confessin'." Danish jazz violinist Svend Asmussen was an added guest for several numbers, though only one is included in this release. The audio and video editing are nicely done, though none of Goodman's performances here would be considered among his best, as he was essentially working with a pickup band touring Europe rather than a regular group with whom he had played frequently. But this CD/DVD package is worth investigating if found at a reasonable price.