The King Swings

AMG Review of The King Swings

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

For this fairly rare live session (reissued on CD with one extra selection), Benny Goodman heads a nonet that includes some all-stars (trombonist George Masso, Al Klink on tenor, vibraphonist Peter Appleyard, pianist John Bunch, guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli and bassist Slam Stewart) plus the relatively unknown drummer Joe Corsello and English trumpeter John McLevy. Most of the repertoire is somewhat typical (and greeted enthusiastically by the German audience during the Hamburg concert) but contains a few surprises: Slam Stewart's feature on "Lady Be Good," and a rendition of Stephen Sondheim's "Night Waltz," a hot Dixielandish "That's a Plenty," and a rare version of "Bed Mir Bist Du Schon" which finds BG playing the famous Ziggy Elman fralich interlude on clarinet.