Benny Goodman

Michael J. Dutton is the man behind the Dutton Vocalion reissue label, a ready source of fascinating recordings originally released over a half century period extending from the 1920s to the '70s. Following closely on the heels of a bracing burst of vintage 1973 Maynard Ferguson (M.F. Horn Vols. 3, 4 & 5: Live at Jimmy's), Dutton's 2007 reissue of Benny Goodman's Live at Carnegie Hall 40th Anniversary Concert is more of a complete live recording than the 1990 CD reissue of the original LP. Taped on January 17, 1978, the concert mingled nostalgia and authentically solid swing music with a handful of obligatory concessions to '60s and '70s pop culture, in the form of Stephen Sondheim's "Send in the Clowns" and a couple of Beatles covers. Goodman's wistful reading of "Yesterday" is quaint enough, but being subjected to trumpeter Jack Sheldon's smarty pants vocal on "Rocky Raccoon" is a little like hearing Sebastian Cabot sing "It Ain't Me, Babe" only less funny. What's really important here are the warhorse jam tunes ("Jersey Bounce," "Lady Be Good," "How High the Moon," "Seven Come Eleven," "Roll 'Em," and "Sing, Sing, Sing") and a certain number of really outstanding instrumentalists (Mary Lou Williams, Lionel Hampton, Buddy Tate, Frank Wess, Connie Kay, Jimmy Rowles, and Warren Vaché). Singers on this concert recording (in addition to Sheldon) are Martha Tilton, Debi Craig, and Benny Goodman. ~ arwulf arwulf, All Music Guide