BENNY GOODMAN AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1946-1947 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1385 (2005) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Volume 29 in the Classics Benny Goodman chronology lands right on the cusp of this bandleader's transition from Columbia to Capitol and his stylistic progression from swing to bop. The Columbia sides, cut between August 29 and October 22, 1946, are a mixed bag of vocal pop, mood music with strings, jazz standards played by a sextet and big-band dance tunes including a lively version of "Under the Double Eagle," arranged by pianist Joe Bushkin and newly titled as "Benjie's Bubble." Audible only as one-fifth of the unified sax section, tenor saxophonist and Lester Young devotee Zoot Sims worked with Goodman during October 1946 without ever getting a chance to solo on record. Guitarist Barney Kessel did, right after Eve Young's vocal on "That's the Beginning of the End." Recorded at the tail-end of that same session on October 22, 1946, two energetic, bop-inflected sextet performances clearly preface the stylistic territory that lay ahead. Here Kessel sounds at home in the company of vibraphonist Johnny White, pianist Joe Bushkin, bassist Harry Babasin and drummer Louie Bellson. The beginning of Goodman's tenure as a Capitol recording artist is documented here with records he made between January 28 and March 28, 1947. The first Capitol session opens with Mary Lou Williams' delightfully modernistic opus "Lonely Moments." The flip side features group whistling scored for the entire band on her "Whistle Blues." A survey of personnel reveals an almost entirely reconstituted 17-piece ensemble, with vocals by Johnny Mercer and Matt Dennis. Tracks 15 through 25 are trio, quartet and quintet exercises largely featuring the facile jazz accordion of Ernice Felice, a squeezebox innovator who came up in San Jose, CA. Quite different from Goodman's more conventional Columbia recordings. arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist :

MATT DENNIS – Plays and Sings Matt Dennis (1954-1989) 24-96Hz | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Recorded at the Tally-Ho in Hollywood, Matt Dennis Plays and Sings Matt Dennis is a program of what visitors to his supper-club sets could expect from one of the best lounge singers in an era before the term became a dirty word. Accompanying himself on the piano with bass and drums for backing, Dennis sings 12 of his own tunes, including an avalanche of standards -- "Will You Still Be Mine," "The Night We Called It a Day," "Angel Eyes," "Violets for Your Furs," "Everything Happens to Me," and "Let's Get Away from It All." Though his voice doesn't quite match his notable composing skills, Dennis uses his narrow range and soft, high-tenor tone to craft a sensitive vocal style. His deft sense of humor also comes in handy during several hilarious offsides to the audience and listener, often in the middle of a line. Virgina Maxey duets with him on "We Belong Together" and "When You Love a Fella." John Bush
Tracklist :
1 Will You Still Be Mine 2:36
Lyrics By – Tom Adair
2 Junior And Julie 2:46
Lyrics By – Bob Carson 
3 The Night We Called It A Day 2:17
Lyrics By – Tom Adair
4 Angel Eyes 3:06
Lyrics By – Earl K. Brent
5 Violets For Your Furs 2:19
Lyrics By – Tom Adair
6 Everything Happens To Me 3:10
Lyrics By – Tom Adair
7 Compared To You 3:00
Lyrics By – Paul Herrick
8 That Tired Routine Called Love 2:25
Lyrics By – Ted Steele
9 It Wasn't The Stars That Thrilled Me 2:53
Lyrics By – Dave Gillam
10 Let's Get Away From It All 2:22
Lyrics By – Tom Adair
Credits :
Bass – Gene Englund
Drums – Mark Barnett
Written-By – Matt Dennis