BENNY CARTER - New York Nights (1997) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

To say that Benny Carter is a marvel is to make an obvious understatement. 87 at the time of this live quartet set (which also includes pianist Chris Neville, bassist Steve LaSpina and drummer Sherman Ferguson), Carter could easily pass for 47, playing without any hesitant or faltering moments in a timeless swing style that he largely invented. There are no surprises to the repertoire other than the fact that Carter's perennial set opener "On Green Dolphin Street" (which is to him what "Indiana" was to Louis Armstrong in the 1950s) is programmed sixth. Two of the songs ("Easy Money" and "When Lights are Low") are Carter's, while the other pieces have been performed by him hundreds of times through the years. No matter; Benny Carter comes up with fresh variations during his enthusiastic solos, including a classic statement on "Secret Love." His logical and thoughtful improvisations manage to be unpredictable, except in their consistent excellence. An easily recommended set from an apparently ageless master. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     What Is This Thing Called Love? 6:56
Cole Porter   
2     Easy Money 8:44
Benny Carter   
3     The Shadow of Your Smile 6:38
Johnny Mandel / Paul Francis Webster   
4     Secret Love 8:47
Sammy Fain / Paul Francis Webster   
5     When Lights Are Low 5:23
Benny Carter / Spencer Williams   
6     On Green Dolphin Street 7:45
Bronislaw Kaper / Ned Washington   
7     But Beautiful 7:00
Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen   
8     Just in Time 6:54
Betty Comden / Adolph Green / Jule Styne   
9     Perdido 7:57
Ervin Drake / Hans Lengsfelder / Juan Tizol
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Benny Carter
Bass – Steve LaSpina
Drums – Sherman Ferguson
Piano – Chris Neville

BENNY CARTER - Harlem Renaissance (1992) 2CD | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Benny Carter is a true marvel. At the time of this recording (a double CD), the classic altoist was already age 84, yet showed no signs of slowing down either his playing or his writing schedule. For his specially assembled big band and The Rutgers University Orchestra (which includes a full string section), Carter wrote entirely new arrangements that demonstrate that his talents have not diminished with age. While the first disc mostly sticks to older material, the second disc is comprised of two new suites "Tales of the Rising Sun" and "Harlem Renaissance." In addition, Carter's alto is often the solo star although he does not hog the spotlight; it just naturally drifts back to him. Scott Yanow
The Benny Carter Big Band    47:24
1    Vine Street Rumble 11:21
Written-By – Benny Carter
2    Sao Paolo 5:05
Written-By – Benny Carter
3    I Can't Get Started 5:42
Written-By – Ira Gershwin, Vernon Duke
4    Stockholm Sweetnin' 5:34
Written-By – Quincy Jones
5    Evening Star 8:31
Written-By – Benny Carter
6    How High The Moon 11:02
Written-By – William M. Lewis, Jr., Nancy Hamilton
The Benny Carter Big Band And The Rutgers University Orchestra    52:58
Tales Of The Rising Sun Suite    25:49
1    August Moon    4:26
2    Teatime    3:51
3    Song Of Long Ago    5:06
4    SamuraI Song    3:07
5    Chow Chow    9:19
Harlem Renaissance Suite    26:29
6    Lament For Langston    5:05
7    Sugar Hill Slow Drag    5:04
8    Happy Feet    6:54
9    Sunday Morning    4:15
10    Happy Feet-Reprise    5:11
All Credits

BENNY CARTER - Songbook, Vol. 2 (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    My Mind Is Still On You 3'22
Vocals – Joe Williams
Words By – John Moen, Leonard Feather
Words By, Music By – Benny Carter
2    Echo Of My Dream 5'07
Vocals – Diana Krall
Words By, Music By – Benny Carter
3    Rock Me To Sleep 5'58
Drums – Roy McCurdy
Vocals – Ruth Brown
Words By, Music By – Benny Carter, Paul Vandervoort II
4    Stop Me Before I Fall In Love Again 4'01
Vocals – Billy Stritch
Words By, Music By – Benny Carter
5    He Doesn't Need Me Now 8'31
Vocals – Nancy Marano
Words By – Paul Vandervoort II
Words By, Music By – Benny Carter
6    Doozy 6'02
Vocals – Jon Hendricks
Words By, Music By – Benny Carter
7    Nevermore 5'07
Vocals – Billy Stritch
Words By, Music By – Benny Carter
8    Malibu 7'04
Vocals – Lainie Kazan
Words By, Music By – Benny Carter
9    Blue Moonlight 5'50
Vocals – Marlena Shaw
Words By, Music By – Benny Carter
10    Evening Star 5'27
Drums – Roy McCurdy
Vocals – Kenny Rankin
Words By, Music By – Benny Carter
11    Slow Carousel 4'44
Vocals – Nancy Marano
Words By, Music By – Benny Carter
12    Whisper To One 4'02
Music By – Benny Carter
Vocals – Barbara Lea
Words By – Al Stillman
13    I'm The Caring Kind 5'52
Music By – Benny Carter
Vocals – Weslia Whitfield
Words By – Irving Gordon
14    When Hilma Smiles 4'15
Vocals, Words By, Music By – Benny Carter
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Liner Notes – Benny Carter
Bass – Steve LaSpina
Cornet – Warren Vaché (pistas: 1 to 11, 13, 14)
Drums – Sherman Ferguson (pistas: 1, 2, 4 to 9, 11 to 14)
Piano, Producer [Production Assistance] – Chris Neville