BENNY CARTER AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1946-1948 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1043 (1999) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Benny Carter, like Coleman Hawkins, spent the '40s rubbing shoulders with bebop's young Turks, while mostly maintaining the style he forged during the early jazz and swing years. Possibly, like Hawkins again, Carter's '30s stay in Europe opened him up to the progressive nature of jazz and the necessity of always taking advantage of the music's complexities and malleability. And while Carter didn't ape Charlie Parker's alto flights or become a fixture at Minton's Playhouse, he did head up some fine big bands that featured the likes of Miles Davis, Dexter Gordon, J.J. Johnson, Max Roach, and Howard McGhee, to name a few bebop figures. This Classics discs takes in some of Carter's adventurous big band sides from 1946-1948, including a California outfit with Davis and Gerald Wilson. On the more traditional end, Carter is also heard with swing contemporaries like Buck Clayton and Ben Webster. A fine document of the fertile transition from swing to bebop. Stephen Cook     Tracklist + Credits : 

ARTIE SHAW AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1940-1941 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1167 (2001) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Artie Shaw kept his third jazz orchestra (his Stardust band) together into early 1941 before he decided to break it up. Included on this CD are the big band's last recordings (including "Prelude in C Major," "Dancing in the Dark," and the exciting two-part "Concerto for Clarinet") plus the second session by Shaw's Gramercy Five, featuring trumpeter Billy Butterfield and Johnny Guarnieri on harpsichord. Concluding this CD are four songs with a studio orchestra and four others with a very interesting interracial group that includes trumpeter Henry "Red" Allen, trombonist J.C. Higginbotham, altoist Benny Carter, Lena Horne (taking two vocals), and a string section. There are lots of stimulating and surprising performances heard throughout this pleasing program by the great clarinetist. Scott Yanow
Tracklist + Credits :

BENNY CARTER AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1939-1940 | The Classics Chronological Series – 579 (1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This CD, the fifth in Classics' complete chronological reissue of Benny Carter's early recordings as a leader, features his 1939-40 big band, an orchestra that never did catch on commercially. Most selections have trumpeter Joe Thomas, trombonist Vic Dickenson and pianist Eddie Heywood as the main soloists other than the leader (who plays alto and trumpet) although the last date on this disc has a reorganized band with trumpeter Bill Coleman and trombonist Sandy Williams among the principal players. among the highpoints from this enjoyable but underrated big band are "Savoy Stampede," "Scandal in a Flat," "Shufflebug Shuffle," "Night Hop" and "When Lights Are Low." Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Scandal in a Flat 3:20
Benny Carter    
2     When the Lights Are Low 2:54
Benny Carter / Spencer Williams    
3     The Favor of a Fool 3:02
Benny Carter / Irving Mills    
4     Riff Romp 2:59
Benny Carter    
5     Shufflebug Shuffle 2:48
Benny Carter    
6     Vagabond Dreams 2:58
Hoagy Carmichael / Jack Lawrence    
7     Love's Got Me Down Again 2:34     
8     More Than You Know 2:49
Edward Eliscu / Billy Rose / Vincent Youmans    
9     Sleep 3:00
Earl Lebieg    
10     Among My Souvenirs 3:13
Edgar Leslie / Horatio Nicholls    
11     Fish Fry 3:13
Benny Carter    
12     Slow Freight 3:22
Buck Ram / Roger "Ram" Ramirez    
13     Honey Bunny Boo 2:40
Roe Alexander / Roger "Ram" Ramirez    
14     The Five Little Quints 2:46
Roger "Ram" Ramirez    
15     Harmony in Harlem 3:07
Duke Ellington / Johnny Hodges / Irving Mills
16     Midnight Jamboree 2:28
Roger "Ram" Ramirez    
17     Night Hop 3:11
Benny Carter
18     Pom Pom 2:53
Benny Carter    
19     O.K. for Baby 3:06
Benny Carter    
20     Serenade to a Sarong 3:16
Benny Carter    
21     Smack 2:38
Leonard Feather    
22     I Surrender, Dear 4:30
Harry Barris / Gordon Clifford    
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Carl Frye (pistas: 1 to 12, 17 to 20), George Dorsey (pistas: 17 to 20), James Powell (pistas: 1 to 12)
Alto Saxophone, Trumpet, Clarinet, Piano, Arranged By – Benny Carter
Bass – Hayes Alvis (pistas: 1 to 20), John Kirby (pistas: 21, 22)
Drums – Henry Morrison (pistas: 1 to 4), William "Keg" Purnell (pistas: 5 to 20), Sidney Catlett (pistas: 21, 22)
Guitar – Bernard Addison (pistas: 21, 22), Ulysses Livingston (pistas: 1 to 12, 17 to 20)
Piano – Eddie Heywood, Jr. (pistas: 1 to 16), Sonny White (pistas: 17 to 20)
Tenor Saxophone – Castor McCord (pistas: 1 to 4), Coleman Hawkins (pistas: 9 to 16, 21, 22), Ernie Powell (pistas: 1 to 8), Sammy Davis (2) (pistas: 5 to 8, 17 to 20), Stafford Simon (pistas: 17 to 20), Stan Payne* (pistas: 9 to 12)
Trombone – Gene Simon (pistas: 9 to 12), Jimmy Archey (pistas: 1 to 12), Milton Robinson (pistas: 17 to 20), Sandy Williams (pistas: 17 to 20), Vic Dickenson (pistas: 1 to 12)
Trombone, Vibraphone – Tyree Glenn (pistas: 1 to 8)
Trumpet – Bill Coleman (pistas: 17 to 20), George Woodlen (pistas: 1), Eddie Mullens (pistas: 2 to 8), Joe Thomas (4) (pistas: 1 to 16), Lincoln Mills (pistas: 1 to 12), Roy Eldridge (pistas: 21, 22), Russell Smith (pistas: 9 to 12, 17 to 20), Shad Collins (pistas: 17 to 20)
Vocals – Dell St. John (pistas: 2), Roy Felton (pistas: 6 to 8, 10), The Quintones (pistas: 13 to 16)

BENNY CARTER AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1940-1941 | The Classics Chronological Series – 631 (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Most of the selections on the sixth and final Classics' CD to reissue all of Benny Carter's pre-war recordings as a leader feature the altoist's commercially unsuccessful big band. With such major soloists as the leader, trumpeter Jonah Jones and Sidney DeParis, trombonists Benny Morton and Jimmy Archey and pianist Sonny White, it is surprising that this orchestra did not make it. The October 23, 1940 recording session (which has three vocals by Roy Felton including one in which he is joined by the Mills Brothers) is quite rare while the opening set from eight days earlier is a small group date with Bill Coleman and Benny Morton that features a pair of W.C. Handy blues sung by Big Joe Turner. Excellent swing music overall. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     I Can't Believe That You're in Love With Me 4:05
Clarence Gaskill / Jimmy McHugh   
2     Joe Turner Blues 2:42
W.C. Handy   
3     Beale Street Blues 2:34
W.C. Handy   
4     By the Watermelon Vine, Lindy Lou 3:13
5     The Last Kiss You Gave Me 3:12
Harry Ruby   
6     Boogie Woogie Sugar Blues 3:04
7     I've Been in Love Before 3:08
Frederick Hollander / Frank Loesser   
8     All of Me 3:18
Gerald Marks / Seymour Simons   
9     The Very Thought of You 3:05
Ray Noble   
10     Cocktails for Two 3:03
Sam Coslow / Arthur Johnston   
11     Takin' My Time 3:21
Benny Carter   
12     Cuddle up, Huddle Up 2:44
Benny Carter   
13     Ev'ry Goodbye Ain't Gone 3:13
Benny Carter   
14     Babalu 3:04
Margarita Lecuona   
15     There! I've Said It Again 3:03
Redd Evans / Dave Mann   
16     Midnight 3:16
Johnny Gomez / Charlie Parker   
17     My Favorite Blues 3:06
Benny Carter   
18     Lullaby to a Dream 3:07
Benny Carter / Johnny Gomez   
19     What a Diff'rence a Day Made 3:02
Stanley Adams / María Mendez Grever   
20     Sunday 2:41
Chester Conn / Benny Krueger / Ned Miller / Jule Styne
21     Ill Wind 3:00
Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler   
22     Back Bay Boogie 2:52
Benny Carter   
23     Tree of Hope 2:49
Benny Carter       
Credits :   
Alto Saxophone – Bill White (tracks: 12 to 15), Chauncey Haughton (tracks: 4 to 11), Eddie Barefield (tracks: 16 to 19), Ernie Purce (tracks: 16 to 23)
Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – George James (tracks: 4 to 11, 20 to 23)
Alto Saxophone, Piano, Clarinet, Trumpet, Arranged By – Benny Carter
Bass – Charles Drayton (tracks: 16 to 23), Hayes Alvis (tracks: 4 to 11), John Kirby (tracks: 1), Ted Sturgis (tracks: 12 to 15), Wilson Myers (tracks: 2, 3)
Drums – Al Taylor (tracks: 16 to 19), J.C. Heard (tracks: 12 to 15), William "Keg" Purnell (tracks: 4 to 11), Berisford Shepherd (tracks: 20 to 23), Sidney Catlett (tracks: 1), Yank Porter (tracks: 2, 3)
Electric Guitar – William Lewis (tracks: 20 to 23)
Guitar – Bernard Addison (tracks: 1), Everett Barksdale (tracks: 4 to 11), Herb Thomas (tracks: 12 to 19), Ulysses Livingston (tracks: 2, 3)
Piano – Sonny White (tracks: 2 to 23)
Tenor Saxophone – Alfred Gibson (tracks: 20 to 23), Coleman Hawkins (tracks: 1), Ernie Powell (tracks: 16 to 23), Fred Williams (tracks: 16 to 19), Fred Mitchell (tracks: 12 to 15), George Irish (tracks: 4 to 15), George Auld (tracks: 2, 3), Stafford Simon (tracks: 4 to 11)
Trombone – Benny Morton (tracks: 2, 3, 8 to 11, 20 to 23), Jimmy Archey (tracks: 12 to 23), Joe Britton (tracks: 12 to 19), John McConnell (tracks: 20 to 23), Madison Vaughan (tracks: 4 to 11), Milton Robinson (tracks: 4 to 11), Vic Dickenson (tracks: 12 to 19)
Trumpet – Bill Coleman (tracks: 2, 3), Bobby Williams (tracks: 4 to 11), Doc Cheatham (tracks: 16 to 19), Emmett Berry (tracks: 20 to 23), Jonah Jones (tracks: 4 to 7, 12 to 15), Lincoln Mills (tracks: 16 to 19), Nathaniel Williams (2) (tracks: 20 to 23), Rostelle Reese (tracks: 20 to 23), Roy Eldridge (tracks: 1), Russell Smith (tracks: 4 to 15), Sidney De Paris (tracks: 8 to 19)
Vocals – Joe Turner (tracks: 2, 3), Maxine Sullivan (tracks: 19), Roy Felton (tracks: 15)

BENNY CARTER AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1946-1948 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1043 (1999) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Benny Carter, like Coleman Hawkins, spent the '40s rubbing shoulders with bebop's young Turks, while mostly maintaining the style he forged during the early jazz and swing years. Possibly, like Hawkins again, Carter's '30s stay in Europe opened him up to the progressive nature of jazz and the necessity of always taking advantage of the music's complexities and malleability. And while Carter didn't ape Charlie Parker's alto flights or become a fixture at Minton's Playhouse, he did head up some fine big bands that featured the likes of Miles Davis, Dexter Gordon, J.J. Johnson, Max Roach, and Howard McGhee, to name a few bebop figures. This Classics discs takes in some of Carter's adventurous big band sides from 1946-1948, including a California outfit with Davis and Gerald Wilson. On the more traditional end, Carter is also heard with swing contemporaries like Buck Clayton and Ben Webster. A fine document of the fertile transition from swing to bebop. Stephen Cook
Tracklist :
1    Benny Carter And His Orchestra–    Melodrama In A V-Disc Record Room    3:30
2    Benny Carter And His Orchestra–    I Can't Get Started    2:54
Vernon Duke / Ira Gershwin
3    Kay Starr With Orchestra–    He's Funny That Way 2:43
Vocals – Kay Starr
Neil Moret / Richard A. Whiting
4    Benny Carter Quintet–    Moonglow    2:51
Eddie DeLange / Will Hudson / Irving Mills
5    Benny Carter Quintet–    Give Me Something To Remember You By    2:48
 Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz
6    Benny Carter Quintet–    Lady Be Good    2:38
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
7    Benny Carter Quintet–    Deep Purple    3:11
Peter DeRose / Mitchell Parish
8    Benny Carter And His Orchestra–    Back Bay Boogie    5:17
 Benny Carter
9    Benny Carter And Orchestra–    Prelude To A Kiss    3:05
Duke Ellington / Irving Gordon / Irving Mills
10    Benny Carter And His Orchestra–    Re-Bop Boogie    3:00
Benny Carter
11    Benny Carter And His Orchestra–    Twelve O'Clock Jump    2:54
Benny Carter
12    Benny Carter And His Orchestra–    Your Conscience Tells You So 2:37
Vocals – Lu Elliott
Benny Carter / Don Raye
13    Benny Carter And His Orchestra–    Mexican Hat Dance    2:53
Traditional
14    Benny Carter And His Chocolate Dandies–    Sweet Georgia Brown    2:36
Ben Bernie / Kenneth Casey / Maceo Pinkard
15    Benny Carter And His Chocolate Dandies–    Out Of My Way 3:01
Vocals – Sid Catlett
Big Sid Catlett / Tiny Grimes
16    Benny Carter And His Chocolate Dandies–    What'll Be    3:16
Ben Webster
17    Benny Carter And His Chocolate Dandies–    Cadillac Slim    3:03
Ben Webster
18    Benny Carter And His Orchestra–    Baby You're Mine For Keeps 2:40
Vocals – Emma Lou Welch
19    Benny Carter And His Orchestra–    You'll Never Break My Heart Again 2:53
Vocals – Emma Lou Welch, The Enchanters
20    Benny Carter And His Orchestra–    Chilpanicingo 2:54
Vocals – Bob Decker, The Enchanters
21    Benny Carter And His Orchestra–    An Old Love Story 2:59
Vocals – Emma Lou Welch, The Enchanters
22    Benny Carter And His Orchestra–    Reina (My Lovely Queen) 2:58
Vocals – Bob Decker, The Enchanters
23    Benny Carter And His Orchestra–    Let Us Drink A Toast Together 2:42
Vocals – The Enchanters
24    Benny Carter And His Orchestra–    June Comes Around Every Year 3:07
Vocals – Larry Stewart
Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer
25    Benny Carter And His Orchestra–    Forever Blue    3:08
Benny Carter
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone – Jewell Grant (tracks: 24), Joe Epps (tracks: 25), Porter Kilbert (tracks: 24, 25)
Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – Willard Brown (tracks: 1, 2, 8 to 13, 25)
Baritone Saxophone – John Taylor (tracks: 24)
Bass – Charles Drayton (tracks: 24), Dallas Bartley (tracks: 18 to 23), John Simmons (tracks: 14 to 17), Tommy Moultrie (tracks: 1 to 3, 8 to 13, 25), Unknown Artist (tracks: 4 to 7)
Drums – Henry Tucker (tracks: 18 to 23), Max Roach (tracks: 24), Percy Brice (tracks: 1 to 3, 8 to 13, 25), Sid Catlett (tracks: 14 to 17), Unknown Artist (tracks: 4 to 7)
Guitar – Herman Mitchell (tracks: 24), Jack Marshall (tracks: 18 to 23), James Cannady (tracks: 1 to 3, 8 to 13, 25), Unknown Artist (tracks: 4 to 7)
Piano – Cyril Haynes (tracks: 18 to 23), Rufus Webster (tracks: 24, 25), Sonny White (tracks: 1 to 17)
Tenor Saxophone – Ben Webster (tracks: 14 to 17), Bumps Myers (tracks: 1 to 3, 8 to 13, 18 to 25), Harold Clark (tracks: 24, 25)
Trombone – Al Grey (tracks: 1, 2, 8 to 17, 25), Alton Moore (tracks: 24, 25), Charles Johnson (tracks: 25), Clarence "Candy" Ross (tracks: 1, 2, 8 to 13), George Washington (tracks: 24), Henry Coker (tracks: 18 to 24), John Morris (tracks: 25), Louis Taylor (tracks: 24)
Trumpet – Buck Clayton (tracks: 14 to 17), Calvin Strickland (tracks: 1, 2), Emmett Berry (tracks: 24), Fred Trainer (tracks: 1, 2, 24), Gerald Wilson (tracks: 24), Leonard "Idris Sulieman" Graham (tracks: 25), Ira Pettiford (tracks: 1, 2, 8 to 13), Irving Lewis (tracks: 24), Lewis Botton (tracks: 25), Lew Obergh (tracks: 18 to 23), Louis Gray (tracks: 25), Miles Davis (tracks: 1, 2), Paul Cohen (tracks: 1, 2, 8 to 13, 24), Wallace Jones (tracks: 25), Walter Williams (tracks: 1, 2, 8 to 13)
Trumpet, Alto Saxophone, Clarinet, Directed By – Benny Carter