Benny CARTER - American Swinging in Paris (1938-1938)

Benny CARTER - American Swinging in Paris (1938-1938)

Jazz

Benny Carter was a gentle giant and can arguably considered one of the most influential jazzmen in history. Although his alto playing brought him the most acclaim, his skill in composing and arranging straight ahead jazz music is unparalleled in history. The class, style, and mild mannered, humble demeanor of Benny Carter helped make a lady out of a once frowned upon and forbidden music, jazz.
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His time in France was particularly fruitful and he made a number of excellent recordings at this time, with George Johnson, Willie Lewis, Coleman Hawkins, Stéphane Grapelli, Django Reinhardt, Alix Combelle and André Ekyan.
He can be heard with Coleman Hawkins on two numbers here, "Honeysuckle Rose" and "Crazy Rhythm", which feature a sequence of solos rarely equalled since. They also produced superb improvisations - Carter on trumpet and Hawkins on clarinet- on "Out Of Nowhere".
By Alain-Guy Aknin and Philippe Crocq.
**
Benny Carter- Trumpet (2,3,5-12), Alto Sax (1, 4-12)
Coleman Hawkins- Tenor Sax  (1-4)
André Ekyan- Alto Sax (1-4)
Stéphane Grapelli- Piano (1-4)
Eugène d'Hellemmes- Bass (1-4)
Tommy Benford- Drums (1-4)
Django Reinhardt- Guitar (1-7)
Alix Combelle- Tenor Sax (1,4-7), Clarinet (2,3)
Fletcher Allen- Alto Sax (5-7)
Bertie King- Tenor Sax (5-7), Clarinet (5-7)
York De Souza- Piano (5-7)
Len Harrison- Bass (5-7)
Robert Mommarché- Drums (5-7)
Willie Lewis- Alto Sax (8-12), Vocals (8-12)
George Johnson- Alto Sax (8-12)
Joe Hayman- Tenor Sax (8-12)
Charles 'Coco' Kiehn- Tenor Sax (8-12)
Bobby Martin- Trumpet (8-12), Vocals (8-12)
Alex Renard- Trumpet (8-12)
Herman Chittison- Piano (8-12), Cello (8-12)
June Cole- Bass (8-12)
Ted Fields- Drums (8-12)
John Mitchell- Guitar (8-12)
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Tracks 1-4: Recorded in Paris on April 28, 1937 (Coleman Hawkins & His All Stars Jam Band)
Tracks 5-7: Recorded in Paris on March 7, 1938 (Benny Carter & His Orchestra)
Tracks 8-12: Recorded in Paris on January 17, 1936 (Willie Lewis & His Entertainers)
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01. Crazy Rhythm (Caesar, Kahn, Meyer) 2:59
02. Out Of Nowhere (Heyman, Green) 3:16
03. Sweet Georgia Brown (Bernie, Pinkard, Casey) 2:59
04. Honeysuckle Rose (Waller, Razaf) 2:44
05. I'm Coming Virginia (Heywood, Cook, Will) 3:01
06. Blue Light Blues (Ellington) 3:05
07. Farewell Blues (Mares, Roppolo, Schoebel) 3:17
08. I've Got A Feeling, You're Fooling (Waller, Razaf) 3:18
09. Stay Out Of Love (Gerlach, Fremiere) 3:15
10. All Of Me (Simmons, Marks) 3:15
11. Star Dust (Carmichael) 3:12
12. Just A Mood (Carter) 3:27
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Benny CARTER Quartet - Summer Serenade 1980

Benny CARTER Quartet - Summer Serenade 1980
SLP 4047
Recorded in Copenhagen (Denmark) on August 17, 1980

Jazz

Benny Carter has recorded so many excellent swing sessions throughout his lengthy career that it is very difficult to pick out the best ones; there's too much competition. This quartet date for the Danish Storyville label matches his alto with pianist Kenny Drew, bassist Jesper Lundgaard and drummer Ed Thigpen for four of Carter's originals and three standards. As a bonus, Richard Boone sings the good-humored "All That Jazz."
By Scott Yanow, All Music Guide.
**
Benny Carter- Alto Sax,Trumpet
Kenny Drew- Piano
Jesper Lundgaard- Bass
Ed Thigpen- Drums
Richard Boone- Vocals (4)
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01. (Back Home Again In) Indiana (Hanley, MacDonald) 5:08
02. Almost Like Being in Love (Lerner, Loewe) 7:22
03. Summer Serenade (Carter) 4:15
04. All That Jazz (Carter, Stillman) 5:03
05. Blue Star (Carter) 8:06
06. When Lights Are Low (Carter, Williams) 6:01
07. Taking a Chance on Love (Duke, Fetter, Latouche) 8:20
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Benny CARTER with Ben WEBSTERr & Barney BIGARD - BBB & Co 1962

Benny CARTER with Ben WEBSTERr & Barney BIGARD - BBB & Co 1962
Recorded in Englewood Cliffs (New Jersey) on April 10, 1962

Jazz

One of Benny Carter's last jazz recordings before he became totally immersed in writing for the studios, this set matches his alto and trumpet with tenor great Ben Webster, clarinetist Barney Bigard and trumpeter Shorty Sherock on a pair of lengthy blues and Carter's "Lula" and "When Lights Are Low." All of the swing all-stars are in fine form, making one wish that they were not being so neglected by critics and fans alike during this era; Webster soon left the U.S. permanently for Europe. Although not essential, this set is fun.
By Scott Yanow, All Music Guide.
**
This is a great set from 1962 featuring three of the finest jazz soloists of all time: Webster (tenor), Carter (alto), and Bigard (clarinet). The tracks are bluesy: especially fine is the 12min line of "You Can't Tell the Difference [after dark]." Jazz aficianados can't go wrong with this Album; plus, it's a good introduction to cool jazz for novices. Highly recommended.
**
Benny Carter- Alto Sax, Trumpet
Ben Webster- Tenor Sax 
Barney Bigard- Clarinet
Shorty Sherock- Trumpet
Jimmy Rowles- Piano
Dave Barbour- Guitar
Leroy Vinnegar- Bass
Mel Lewis- Drums
**
A1. Opening Blues (Feather) 10:14
A2. Lula (Carter) 7:46
B3. When Lights Are Low (Carter) 4:46
B4. You Can't Tell the Difference When the Sun Goes Down Blues (Feather) 12:07
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Benny CARTER and His Orchestra - Further Definitions 1961

Benny CARTER and His Orchestra - Further Definitions 1961

Jazz

This essential Album combines altoist/arranger Benny Carter's classic Further Definitions with the related Additions to Further Definitions. The former set was a revisit, instrumentation-wise, to the famous 1937 session that Carter and tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins made in France with two top European saxophonists (Andre Ekyan and Alix Combelle) and guitarist Django Reinhardt. The all-star group (which also includes Hawkins, altoist Phil Woods, Charlie Rouse on second tenor, pianist Dick Katz, guitarist John Collins, bassist Jimmy Garrison, and drummer Jo Jones) performs a particularly inspired repertoire. Carter's charts, which allow Hawkins to stretch out on "Body and Soul," give everyone a chance to shine. "Honeysuckle Rose" and "Crazy Rhythm" hold their own with the 1937 versions, and "Blue Star" and "Doozy" prove to be two of Carter's finest originals. The second date does not quite reach the same heights, but is enjoyable in its own right. This time, Carter contributed six of the eight selections (including a remake of "Doozy"), and the band was gathered from jazzmen then working in the L.A. studios, including Carter and Bud Shank on altos, and tenors Teddy Edwards and either Buddy Collette or Bill Perkins. Although Benny Carter was not actively playing much at the time (this was his only small-group recording during 1963-1975), he is heard in typically prime form. Very highly recommended. [The Japanese release features the original track listing, which cuts the final eight songs from the re-release and leaves only eight tracks.]
By Scott Yanow, All Music Guide.
**
Bass- Jimmy Garrison
Drums- Jo Jones
Guitar- John Collins
Piano - Dick Katz
Alto Sax- Benny Carter , Phil Woods
Tenor Sax- Charles Rouse , Coleman Hawkins
**
A1 Honeysuckle Rose  4:00
A2 The Midnight Sun Will Never Set  3:55
A3 Crazy Rhythm  3:23
A4 Blue Star  5:20

B1 Cotton Tail  4:25
B2 Body & Soul  4:10
B3 Cherry  4:53
B4 Doozy  3:32
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Benny CARTER - Montreux '77

Benny CARTER - Montreux '77
Label: Ojc
Original Release Date: July 13, 1977
Audio CD (July 1, 1991)

Jazz

 
Benny Carter is one of the greatest talents of the jazz world, yet he has never become a household name. His genius, however, as an instrumentalist, composer and arranger has always been apparent to his fellow musicians, and he remained active and in demand into his nineties.

Carter began his career in the mid 1920's, and worked with such early Swing bands as McKinney's Cotton Pickers and the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra, before leading his own successful swing orchestra. He then went to Europe for five years, working and recording with gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt and fellow expatriate Coleman Hawkins. Upon his return to the U.S. in 1939, he successfully reconstituted his orchestra and guested with such stars as Lionel Hampton and Count Basie. After an extended period composing scores for movies and television, Carter returned to the jazz world on a full-time basis in the mid-1970's, producing some of the greatest music of his career over the next two decades, often working with musicians young enough to be his grandchildren or great-grandchildren.

The alto sax was his primary instrument, and he was one of the finest practitioners of the swing-based, pre-bebop style that was popular in the 1930's and 1940's. When bebop arrived, Carter was more than capable of grasping some of its intricacies and nuances and incorporated them into his playing, without abandoning his earlier style. For this reason, his playing remained vital and exciting, even as his contemporaries fell from fashion. Carter was also an accomplished trumpeter. His greatest achievements, though, were as a composer and arranger. Only Duke Ellington surpasses Carter as a writer of innovative and sophisticated jazz compositions. His work as an arranger was similarly unique, whether for his own bands or with other artists.

"Montreux '77" is one of the great unknown classics of jazz recordings. Recorded at the renowned jazz festival only a few years into his "comeback," this is an often astonishing performance with a sympathetic backing trio. Its hard to believe that Carter was already 70 when this was recorded, because he plays with the fire and intensity of a man half that age. He plays a little trumpet here as well, and if he sounds a bit weaker here, he still plays with great intelligence and beauty. The program are all familiar jazz standards that have seldom been performed better. I feel like an ingrate to state this, but would have been nice to hear a Carter original or two. The recording quality is terrific, as were all of the titles in the series of "Montreux '77" recordings that were released by Pablo Records.

This is a wonderful recording, highly recommended to both serious and casual jazz fans alike. Benny Carter, who will turn 94 in 2001, is a treasure, and this is one of the best recordings in his long and accomplished career.
By Ron Frankl.
**
Benny Carter- (Alto Saxophone and Trumpet)
Ray Bryant- (Piano)
Niels Henning Oersted-Pedersen- (Bass)
Jimmie Smith- (Drums)
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01. Three Little Words (Bert Kalmar/Harry Ruby) 5:45
02. In A Mellow Tone (Duke Ellington/Milt Gabler) 8:34
03. Wave (Antonio Carlos Jobim) 6:20
04. Undecided (Sydney Robin/Charlie Shavers) 5:42
05. Body And Soul (Frank Eyton/Johnny Green/Edward Heyman/Robert Sour) 7:03
06. On Green Dolphin Street (Bronislaw Kaper/Ned Washington) 6:28
07. Here's That Rainy Day (Johnny Burke/James Van Heusen) 6:02
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Benny CARTER - Sax ala Carter! 1960 (REPOST)

Benny CARTER - Sax ala Carter! 1960 (REPOST)
Label: Blue Note / Capitol
Audio CD: 2004

Jazz
  
This review is from: Sax ala Carter! (Audio CD)
Originally released on United Artists in 1960, this very pleasant album features Benny Carter's fluid, inventive alto sax playing in a superb quartet setting (Jimmy Rowles - p, Leroy Vinnegar - b, Mel Lewis - d). Carter was a brilliant player with a tone instantly recognizable - and he made everything he played seem as easy as breathing. There is a constant dancing quality to his soloing, most evident here on MOON OF MANAKOORA and the two takes of FRIENDLY ISLANDS, though it's obvious on all the medium and up-tempo selections. An unexpected treat is Benny playing soprano sax on one tune, a rare occurrence, though Benny could and did play all the reads as well as trumpet and trombone. Rowles is an excellent piano player and plays very bluesy on GHOST OF A CHANCE and also takes an intriguing solo on THE ONE I LOVE. Apparently meant and marketed for those who thought they liked mainstream jazz provided it didn't stray too far from the melody, this CD is not a banged out throw off; the playing is high in quality (as is everything associated with Benny Carter) and gives much pleasure with repeated listening. Definitely worth having.
By Bomojaz.
**
This album represents just a small facet of Benny Carter's musical activity during the '50s and '60s, a good deal of which was occupied by writing and arranging in Hollywood. Nevertheless, Carter always seemed to be involved in a number of projects, this 1960 release being just one.

Accompanied by a first-rate trio of Jimmy Rowles (piano), Leroy Vinnegar (bass) and Mel Lewis (drums), the "King" tackled a collection of fairly familiar tunes on a then-United Artists album in 1960. As biographer and annotator Ed Berger points out, while the album was aimed at a broader listening audience than strictly jazz fans, Carter did not simplify his solos to suit the hoi polloi.

Brevity being the soul of wit, nearly all of the selections weigh in at about three minutes apiece, yet Carter and company manage to cram a lot of playing into each cut. Even when stating the various melodies, whether on "All or Nothing at All," "Ghost of a Chance," or a surprisingly uptempo "For All We Know," Carter shows you can wring a lot out of a tune before getting to a formal solo. Rowles is, at times, downright ebullient, in both his accompaniment and his solos, similarly cramming a lot of ideas into limited space without sounding forced or contrived.

The backing of the trio is typically rock-solid for a Carter small group, with Vinnegar and Lewis providing the leader with the strong support he liked. Lewis plays with a forcefulness that he displayed with larger ensembles of the time, such as Terry Gibbs' big band, a style that mellowed after he returned East and started his own band with Thad Jones.

The album contains two interesting Carter footnotes, his overdubbed saxophone stating the melody on "Friendly Islands" and "Moon of Manakoora," and one real gem—his soprano saxophone playing on "Ennui." Given how he sounds on that tune, it's a shame he never attempted to do an entire album on the instrument.
By Mitchell Seidel.
**
Benny Carter- (Soprano, alto, & Tenor saxophones);
Jimmy Rowles- (Piano);
Leroy Vinnegar- (Bass);
Mel Lewis- (Drums).
**
01. And The Angels Sing 2:58  
02. Everything I Have Is Yours 3:36  
03. I Understand 3:07  
04. All Or Nothing At All 3:18  
05. I'll Never Smile Again 2:24  
06. If I Loved You 3:46  
07. Far Away Places 3:25  
08. I Should Care 4:00  
09. For All We Know 3:02  
10. (I Don't Stand A) Ghost Of A Chance With You 2:50      
11. The One I Love (Belongs To Someone Else) 3:07  
12. Moon Of Manakoora 2:42  
13. Ennui 2:21  
14. Friendly Islands 3:10  
15. Friendly Islands 3:07
**
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