BENNY CARTER AND HIS ORCHESTRA - 1937-1939 {CC, 552} (1990) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The fourth CD in Classics' complete chronological reissue of Benny Carter's early recordings as a leader finds Carter (on alto, trumpet, clarinet, tenor and even one vocal) leading orchestras in London, Laren, the Hague, Paris and (for the final three selections) New York. Highpoints include "Nagasaki," "I'm in the Mood for Swing," "Blues in My Heart," "I'm Coming Virginia" (from a three-song session that also features Django Reinhardt) and "Melancholy Lullaby." In addition, the great tenor Coleman Hawkins plays a prominent role on four of the performances. Carter is in top form throughout these often formerly rare but very vital swing recordings. His fans should quickly acquire all of these invaluable Classics releases. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Gin and Jive 2:58
Benny Carter    
2     Nagasaki 2:59
Mort Dixon / Harry Warren    
3     There's a Small Hotel 3:07
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers    
4     There's a Small Hotel 3:06
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers    
5     I'm in the Mood for Swing 2:35
Benny Carter / Spencer Williams    
6     Rambling in C 3:15
Benny Carter    
7     Black Bottom 3:02
Lew Brown / Buddy DeSylva / Ray Henderson    
8     Rambler's Rhythm 2:33
Saskia Kwast    
9     New Street Swing 2:31
Jack Bulterman    
10     I'll Never Give In 2:42
W. Johnson    
11     Skip It 2:58
Benny Carter    
12     Lazy Afternoon 3:04
Benny Carter    
13     I Ain't Got Nobody 3:06
Roger Graham / Dave Peyton / Spencer Williams    
14     Blues in My Heart 2:35
Benny Carter / Irving Mills    
15     Somebody Loves Me 2:47
Buddy DeSylva / George Gershwin / Ballard MacDonald    
16     Mighty Like the Blues 3:04
Leonard Feather    
17     Pardon Me, Pretty Baby 2:59
Raymond Klages / Jack Meskill / Vincent Rose    
18     My Buddy 2:49
Walter Donaldson / Gus Kahn    
19     I'm Coming, Virginia 3:03
Will Marion Cook / Donald Heywood    
20     Farewell Blues 3:15
Paul Mares / Elmer Schoebel    
21     Blue Light Blues 3:06
Benny Carter / Duke Ellington    
22     Plymouth Rock 2:50     
23     Savoy Stampede 2:57
Benny Carter    
24     Melancholy Lullaby 2:58
Benny Carter
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Benny Carter, Carl Frye (pistas: 22 to 24), Fletcher Allen (pistas: 19 to 21), Jimmy Powell (pistas: 22 to 24), Louis Stephenson (pistas: 11 to 14)
Bass – Hayes Alvis (pistas: 22 to 24), Jack Pet (pistas: 7 to 10), Len Harrison (pistas: 11 to 21), Wally Morris (pistas: 1 to 6)
Clarinet – Benny Carter (pistas: 7 to 18)
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Andre Van Der Ouderaa (pistas: 7 to 10), Andy McDevitt (pistas: 1 to 6), Freddy Gardner (pistas: 1 to 6), Wim Poppink (pistas: 7 to 10)
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Williams (pistas: 11 to 18)
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Bertie King (pistas: 11 to 14, 19 to 21)
Directed By – Benny Carter (pistas: 1 to 6, 11 to 18), Theo Uden Masman (pistas: 7 to 10)
Drums – Al Craig (pistas: 1 to 6), Henry Morrison (pistas: 22 to 24), Kees Kranenburg (pistas: 7 to 10), Robert Montmarché (pistas: 11 to 21)
Guitar – Albert Harris (pistas: 1 to 6), Django Reinhardt (pistas: 19 to 21), Ray Webb (pistas: 11 to 18), Ulysses Livingston (pistas: 22 to 24)
Piano – Eddie Heywood (pistas: 22 to 24), Eddie Macauley (pistas: 1 to 6), Freddy Johnson  (pistas: 11 to 18), Nich De Roy (pistas: 7 to 10), Yorke De Souza (pistas: 19 to 21)
Tenor Saxophone – Alix Combelle (pistas: 19 to 21), Benny Carter (pistas: 7 to 10), Buddy FeatherStonaugh (pistas: 1 to 6), Castor McCord (pistas: 22 to 24), Coleman Hawkins (pistas: 15 to 18), Ernie Powell (pistas: 22 to 24), George Evans (3) (pistas: 1 to 6), Sal Doof (pistas: 7 to 10)
Trombone – Bill Mulraney (pistas: 1 to 6), George Chisholm (pistas: 11 to 18), Harry Van Oven (pistas: 11 to 14), Jimmy Archey (pistas: 22 to 24), Lew Davis (pistas: 1 to 6), Marcel Thielemans (pistas: 7 to 10), Vic Dickenson (pistas: 22 to 24)
Trombone, Vibraphone – Tyree Glenn (pistas: 22 to 24)
Trumpet – Benny Carter (pistas: 1 to 18, 21), George Woodlen (pistas: 22 to 24), Cliff Woodridge (pistas: 11 to 14), George Van Helvoirt (pistas: 7 to 10), Jack Bulterman (pistas: 7 to 10), Joe Thomas (pistas: 22 to 24), Leslie Thompson (pistas: 1 to 6), Lincoln Mills (pistas: 22 to 24), Rolf Goldstein (pistas: 11 to 14), Sam Dasberg (pistas: 11 to 14), Tommy McQuater (pistas: 1 to 6)