I got rhythm, I got music…
It was nothing short of pure joy today to listen to a live performance from “The King of Swing, ” et. al, from 1938. That’s 76 years, people. In case you were wondering, in 1938: The average cost for a gallon of gas in the United States was 10 cents. The cost to buy a new home was $3,900. Those damn New York Yankees won the World Series, while Americans Don Budge and Helen Wills Moody were Wimbledon Champions. “You Can’t Take It With You” won Best Picture and Time Magazine’s Man of the Year was Adolf Hitler.^ On January 16 of that year, a special performance took place at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City. This show was different; there weren’t musicians with violins or cellos on stage playing the classical greats like Bach or Beethoven. No sir. But there was an orchestra, a jazz orchestra who played other greats like Berlin, Gershwin and Ellington. And let me tell you ladies and gentlemen, these guys could swing.
At just over 2 hours long and with 23 songs different songs played, this “Famous 1938 Concert” recording was released on vinyl in 1950. Again, I just love being able to listen to this show so many years later. I definitely got a feel for the energy and emotion of the show. Plus, the performances by the big band and guests are top notch. I can’t stress it enough, these musicians cook with gas; they consistently play tight tune after tune, stretch a few songs to must hear jams with potent improvisation and provide the day’s grooves to get your dance on. Of course you would expect nothing less from the cats that appear on this record; a whose who of jazz legends: Lionel Hampton, Gene Krupa, Count Basie, Lester Young and Johnny Hodges. And then there’s the reed blowin’ captain of the ship, Benny Goodman. Not only is his leadership aces on the album, his clarinet chops take the gold medal. Because of the length of concert, there are naturally many highlights. The entire record is worthy, but I shall point out a few numbers that struck my fancy. First there are some Goodman staples that should get a nod like the opening Don’t Be That Way, Dizzy Spells, One O’clock Jump and Stompin’ at the Savoy. The versions of Blue Skies, Body and Soul, Swingtime in the Rockies, China Boy and I Got Rhythm should not be missed. These tunes feature some of that wonderful jamming I spoke of earlier. But the jams that take top prize are the signature Goodman cover Sing Sing Sing (with a Swing) and an all star rendition of Honeysuckle Rose. There are no thorns on that flower.
I have always been strongly drawn to music from this era. I love me some sweet swingin’, boppin’big band, jumpin’ jazz. I encourage you to listen to the popular fare of yesteryear. My grandparents would have surely swiveled their hips, flailed there arms and wildly turned their feet to the wonderful sounds of Benny Goodman and his orchestra. It’s impossible to not move some of your body while listening to it. Really.
p.s. There is a wonderful write up about the history and importance of this concert that can be found on http://www.jitterbuzz.com/carcon.html. Author Mike Joyce gives a nice perspective of the event.
*Benny Goodman, clarinet, vocal, and leader
Chris Griffin, Ziggy Elman, Harry James, trumpets
Red Ballard, Vernon Brown, trombones
George Koenig, Art Rollini, Babe Russin, Hymie Schertzer, reed instruments
Jess Stacy, piano
Teddy Wilson, piano (BG trio and quartet only)
Lionel Hampton, vibraphone (BG quartet only)
Allan Reuss, guitar
Harry Goodman, bass
Gene Krupa, drums
Martha Tilton, vocal
Additional Personnel:
Count Basie, piano
Harry Carney, baritone saxophone
Buck Clayton, trumpet
Freddie Green, guitar
Bobby Hackett, cornet
Johnny Hodges, soprano[5] and alto saxophones
Walter Page, bass
Lester Young, tenor saxophone
Cootie Williams, trumpet
Slam Stewart bass (BG sextet only)
“The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert” 1950
Columbia Label
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Famous_1938_Carnegie_Hall_Jazz_Concert#Additional_Personnel
^http://www.pop-culture.us/Annual/1938.html
^http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1938.html
365, Album of the Day 2014 