May 30, 2007

Happy Birthday, Benny Goodman!

Born this day in 1909.

I'll just shut up and get out of the way. Here's BG and his Big Band doing a medley in the late 30's:

And here's the Benny Goodman Quintet from some time later (yes, again that's Lionel Hampton on the vibraphone):

If you've got to confine yourself to a single Benny Goodman recording, may I strongly recommend the 1938 Carnegie Hall concert? For my money, his rendition there of "Sing, Sing, Sing" is the best damn big band sound ever heard.

Posted by Robert at May 30, 2007 12:50 PM | TrackBack
Comments

This must be why I've been hankering for Goodman all day (and I've yet to load it on my iPod - travesty!) He really knew what he was doing.

Posted by: beth at May 30, 2007 01:01 PM

If you can find 'em, two of my favorites are songs he did with Helen Forrest. One is called "Corn Silk" and the other "Lazy River".

Good stuff. Gooooood stuff.

Posted by: Robbo the LB at May 30, 2007 01:35 PM

Corn Silk I've heard. Lovely.

I'll now have to go in search of Lazy River. Thankee! :)

Posted by: beth at May 30, 2007 02:45 PM