Benny James 01 Birdsongs

Rockstar Records present a twenty-nine song CD album entitled Benny Joy, Little Red Book with recordings from the years 1957 to 1963. There are two recordings which are dually credited to Benny Joy and "Big" John Taylor, and one solo "Big"John Taylor release. Their initial recording from the year 1957 "Hey"… High School Baby! b/w Spin The Bottle were released using only Benny Joy’s name, and they were recorded for the Haines City, Florida based Tri-Dec label. The CD album includes the Dixie version of Spin The Bottle which was the undubbed master leased to Shelby Singleton who added his name to the writing credits.

Rockstar Records present a twenty-nine song CD album entitled Benny Joy, Little Red Book with recordings from the years 1957 to 1963. There are two recordings which are dually credited to Benny Joy and "Big" John Taylor, and one solo "Big"John Taylor release. Their initial recording from the year 1957 "Hey"… High School Baby! b/w Spin The Bottle were released using only Benny Joy’s name, and they were recorded for the Haines City, Florida based Tri-Dec label. The CD album includes the Dixie version of Spin The Bottle which was the undubbed master leased to Shelby Singleton who added his name to the writing credits.

Benny Goodman was the first celebrated bandleader of the Swing Era, dubbed "The King of Swing," his popular emergence marking the beginning of the era. He was an accomplished clarinetist whose distinctive playing gave an identity both to his big band and to the smaller units he led simultaneously. The most popular figure of the first few years of the Swing Era, he continued to perform until his death 50 years later.

The addition of Harry James to Benny Goodman & His Orchestra in January 1937 gave Benny Goodman one of the greatest trumpet sections ever with James, Ziggy Elman, and Chris Griffin all able to play both solos and lead. Gene Krupa's drumming became increasingly assertive during this period, adding excitement to the band even if Goodman was not sure that he enjoyed the change in the group's sound. Helen Ward's decision to retire at the end of 1936 was unfortunate (she would never regain the fame that she had at that moment) and it would take Goodman much of 1937 before finding the right vocalist. But with that trumpet section, Jess Stacy, Krupa, and the Benny Goodman Trio and quartet, not to mention the leader's clarinet, this was a classic band - the most popular in the music world…

In jazz, live recordings not only document an artist or group's sound in its purest form but, in rare cases, herald the arrival of a musical genre. That's the case with this invaluable, two-CD collection that captures clarinetist Benny Goodman's historic 1938 Carnegie Hall concert, which exemplified the so-called "swing era." Originally released in 1950, it contains rare commentary from Goodman and music from the entire event, which was a unique mix of formality and spontaneity. Goodman's perfect intonation and lyrical improvisation front the big band here, featuring the smooth solos of trumpeter Harry James, the percussive power of Gene Krupa - jumping the blues on "Don't Be That Way" - and the Fletcher Henderson - arranged "Sometimes I'm Happy" and "One O'Clock Jump"…

The 1937 Benny Goodman & His Orchestra are still considered one of the top big bands ever. With a trumpet section featuring Harry James, Ziggy Elman, and Chris Griffin; pianist Jess Stacy and drummer Gene Krupa in the rhythm section; the leader's clarinet; and his trio and quartet with Teddy Wilson and Lionel Hampton, it is no wonder that Benny Goodman was so popular during this era. The main addition to the band during the second half of 1937 was singer Martha Tilton, who fit in quite well. Highlights of this often-stirring program include "Roll 'Em," the quartet on "Avalon" and "Handful of Keys," "Sugar Foot Stomp," and a swinging "Minnie the Moocher's Wedding Day."

The 1938 version of Benny Goodman & His Orchestra was still a strong ensemble, featuring Goodman, Harry James, Ziggy Elman, tenor saxophonist Bud Freeman, Jess Stacy, Martha Tilton, and Dave Tough on drums, plus in the trio/quartet Teddy Wilson and Lionel Hampton. Gene Krupa might have been missed, but the ensemble still swung hard. Highlights of this chronological study include "Lullaby in Rhythm," "I Let a Song Go out of My Heart" (featuring Tilton), "Big John's Special," "Wrappin' It Up," and the quartet version of "Dizzy Spells."

This third installment in the Classics Harry James chronology opens with nine solid sides recorded in Los Angeles during November of 1939. Seven of these are fine examples of big-band swing created expressly for dancing purposes. The lively and dramatic "Concerto for Trumpet" is a masterpiece in miniature. "Flash" and "Avalon" were based on arrangements written by the great Andy Gibson. One player deserving of wider recognition is pianist Jack Gardner, an able technician who rocks like a fiend during "Back Beat Boogie." Although the public certainly enjoyed these records, the men who ran Columbia, having expected quicker sales and larger profits, chose to eliminate Harry James from their roster shortly after the session of November 30th…