Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Benny Goodman: Centennial Collection

359

Benny Goodman: Centennial Collection

By

Sign in to view read count
Benny Goodman: Centennial Collection
By Francis Lo Kee

Clarinetist Benny Goodman (1909-86) is considered by jazz historians to be one of the most important musicians in all of jazz, though not all of his important achievements were strictly musical. He is credited with racially integrating his bands at a time when it was not a popular idea, yet he brought jazz a level of audience attention that would earn it the title of pop music today. The DVD presents footage from 1939-66, while the CD concentrates on 1935-39, mostly big band music. The CD presents the pop music side of Benny Goodman more than the hot jazz improviser.

The music features vocals by Ella Fitzgerald, Helen Ward, and Martha Tilton and was arranged by Fletcher Henderson, Jimmy Mundy, Eddie Sauter, and Mary Lou Williams, to name a few. This is another aspect of the Goodman phenomenon: he surrounded himself with great musicians. (And some would say cynically built his career on their sometimes uncredited or de-emphasized work.) One of the great aspects of all the musical performances here is a sense of teamwork, a sense of the whole of the music being much more important than any one component part. Younger jazz musicians could get a lot out of this concept in this set.

Outstanding tracks include "Body and Soul, "I Hope Gabriel Likes My Music (with Roy Eldridge), "Bugle Call Rag, "Sing, Sing, Sing (with Gene Krupa), "Life Goes to a Party, Take 2, and "Bumble Bee Stomp. Also included is "And The Angels Sing, which, after a minute of a typical sounding pop ballad, stops, changes groove, and goes into the klezmer tune "Der Shtiler Bulgar (The Quiet Bulgar) for one pass, then segues back into the opening feel, giving trumpeter Ziggy Elman a very interesting feature.

The DVD presentation is more diffuse, drawing from Hollywood film performances that move from features to background function to an almost home-movie quality series from the 1966 Belgian Jazz Festival. The interest here is more cultural than musical. The big disappointment is that while Doc Cheatham is present in the 1966 group, we never really get to hear him do his thing!

This CD/DVD collection will be most interesting to Benny Goodman fanatics or would-be historians of jazz or pop culture. For a deeper understanding of Benny Goodman, clarinet improviser, we must dig deeper. This package is very good, with great sound and clear video, but the printed matter would be even more complete if it listed all of the performing musicians. If you can include recording dates and original serial numbers, go the extra mile and credit all the musicians (and be a little more generous with the type size). Other discs of interest in the Centennial Collection series feature Duke Ellington, Coleman Hawkins, and Fats Waller.

Track Listing

1 Sometimes I'm Happy 3:44' 2 King Porter Stomp 3:11; 3 Body and Soul 3:32; 4 Good- Bye 3:30; 5 I Hope Gabriel Likes My Music 3:07; 6 Swingtime in the Rockies 3:15; 7 These Foolish Things Remind Me of You 2:35; 8 Moonglow 3:26; 9 Bugle Call Rag 3:00; 10 Jam Session 2:55; 11 Goodnight, My Love 3:11; 12 I Want to Be Happy 2:41; 13 Rosetta 2:42; 14 Sing, Sing, Sing 8:44; 15 Roll 'Em 3:15; 16 Life Goes to a Party [Take 2] 3:08; 17 Lullaby in Rhythm 3:36; 18 Wrappin' It Up 3:03; 19 Bumble Bee Stomp 3:01; 20 And the Angels Sing 3:14; 21 Opus 3/4 2:56; 22 I've Got a Heartful of Music/Avalon/House Hop [multimedia track]; 23 I Know That You Know [multimedia track]; 24 Roll 'Em [multimedia track]; 25 One O'Clock Jump [multimedia track]; 26 Movie Trailer [multimedia track]; 27 Why Don't You Do Right [multimedia track]; 28 Bugle Call Rag [multimedia track]; 29 Newsreel Coverage [multimedia track]; 30 The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise [multimedia track]; 31 Sextet Blues [multimedia track]; 32 The Monk Swings [multimedia track]; 33 The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise [multimedia track]; 34 The Monk Swings [multimedia track]; 35 Interview With Benny Goodman [Audio Only]

Personnel

Benny Goodman
clarinet

Chu Berry Piano; Israel Crosby Bass; Roy Eldridge Trumpet; Ella Fitzgerald Vocals; Benny Goodman Clarinet; Lionel Hampton Vibraphone; Gene Krupa Drums; Allan Reuss Guitar; Jess Stacy Piano; Martha Tilton Vocals; Helen Ward Vocals

Album information

Title: Centennial Collection | Year Released: 2005 | Record Label: Bluebird

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.
View events near New York City
Jazz Near New York City
Events Guide | Venue Guide | Local Businesses | More...

More

What Was Happening
Bobby Wellins Quartet
Laugh Ash
Ches Smith
A New Beat
Ulysses Owens, Jr. and Generation Y

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.