The Live at the International World Exhibition Brussels: Unissued Recordings

AMG Review of The Live at the International World Exhibition Brussels: Unissued Recordings

Ken Dryden
All Music Guide

This Magic CD compiles a number of unreleased recordings from Benny Goodman's series of performances at the 1958 World's Fair in Brussels, Belgium, broadcast by Radio France and also televised by Eurovision. Though there are not as many big names in Goodman's big band as during other tours, trumpeter Taft Jordan, tenor saxophonist Zoot Sims and pianist Roland Hanna are present. Most of this collection is devoted to vocal features by either Jimmy Rushing or Ethel Ennis, with Hanna and Sims doing a great job setting up Rushing for a rousing "Sent for You Yesterday." Ethel Ennis is also in fine voice and shares a duet of "A Fine Romance" with Rushing. Some of the music from these concerts was also broadcast in the United States and a special limited-edition five-LP set was distributed by Westinghouse to executives of its radio and television networks. It is difficult to tell whether or not any of the material on this bootleg CD has been issued in any form. The only problem with this disc consists of some rough editing during Goodman's spoken introductions. In any case, Benny Goodman fans will want to acquire this rare material.