In 1972 two stars collided to make wonderful music together! Of course, they didn’t do it alone. The great Ben Webster on tenor and the incomparable Oscar Peterson playing piano were joined in Hannover, Germany by Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen (Aka The Great Dane with the Never-Ending Name) with his bass, and Tony Inzalaco on drums. Here is just a sample of the results. It’s called Poutin’ … but it left the crowd smilin’ and wanting more.
Here is a sort of bonus this week as the same Benny Goodman Quartet — different year, 1937 — plays “I Got A Heartful Of Music”. Compare it with the 1972 performances. They haven’t lost much of a step in all those years … and Krupa is nuts!
This is the Original Benny Goodman Quartet! Except for guest bassist George Duvivier, it’s the same amazing group, along with the rest of the Benny Goodman Orchestra, that brought down the house with their Carnegie Hall Concert in 1938! The concert has been described by critics as “the single most important jazz or popular music concert in history … jazz’s ‘coming out’ party to the world of ‘respectable’ music.” The Quartet, which went on to perform for years to follow, was one of the first integrated jazz groups to achieve popularity during a era of pervasive racial segregation.
In 1972 Timex reunited clarinetist Benny Goodman, pianist Teddy Wilson, vibraphonist Lionel Hampton, drummer Gene Krupa — adding Duvivier on bass — for a television special from Lincoln Center in New York. Like Timex watches, which were always said to “keep on ticking”, this timeless group still kept on swinging. Goodman’s “Avalon” (Top) and the ever popular “Moonglow” (Lower) are here to prove it.
I’ll Remember April was recorded in 2005 at the Marciac Jazz Festival in France. Phil Woods and his alto are joined by Ben Aronov (piano) Reginald Johnson (bass) Doug Sides (drums) and the lush strings of The Orchestre du Conservatoire National Regional de Toulouse.
Señor Blues is a Horace Silver composition that has become something of a jazz standard. This recording is from the Legends Of Jazz television series hosted by Ramsey Lewis on PBS in 2006. This arrangement adds the distinctive sound of David Sanborn to the already solid Phil Woods Quartet.
Frank Sinatra said Ella Fitzgerald was the best singer (male or female) he ever heard and the only one who made him nervous to sing with, because he had to be up to her standards. Two legends and only one word to describe them: Respect! Frank even lets Ella dominate their performances to showcase her greatness. He was always the gentleman. Talent like Frank and Ella are extinct now and nobody comes close to them … not then, not now.
It was 1967 and both singers were in their prime on That’s Why The Lady Is A Tramp! At one point they respectfully bow to each other, since hugging was not yet a public possibility … still they managed it, lyrically.
Frank may have met his match on Moonlight In Vermont and he knew it. You can tell by the way he looks at her while they’re singing. They sound so perfect, I wish they had made an album together.
To join our Mark Of Jazz Facebook discussion group.
For more posts and to leave comments on Twitter.
As well as follow and download the Jazz Scene Podcast on iTunes, too!