Benny Goodman

The best pieces here, not surprisingly, are the ones by the composers with the most formidable reputations: Copland, Bartok, and Stravinsky, but the overtly jazzy Leonard Bernstein and Morton Gould pieces are a lot of fun too. The Bernstein piece sounds something like incidental music from "West Side Story". The Morton Gould piece is in more or less the same vein as the Bernstein, but it's a bit more serious. In every case but one the composer himself conducts, and in the remaining case, the Bartok, the composer plays the piano.I heard the Woody Herman recording of "Ebony Concerto" many years ago, by the way, and at the time I assumed Herman misunderstood Stravinsky's intentions regarding the eighths. Herman swung them all, and pretty brazenly. This recording seems to prove me right, for with the composer at the helm the eighths are mostly straight, and when they deviate at all, they deviate subtly. It is often said that Herman commissioned "Ebony Concerto" or, conversely, that Stravinsky took it upon himself to write for the Herman band. Neither is true. The Woody Herman Band and Stravinsky were both recording for Columbia at the time, and Columbia commissioned the piece, hoping it might generate profitable cross-over publicity.

This CD brings together some of Benny Goodman's greatest classical performances, of classic works for the clarinet, some of which were written for him. You get Bartok, Bernstein, Copland, Morton Gould, and Stravinsky all together. This is a wonderfully varied set of pieces, and good performances of each. A treat for someone who doesn't already know Goodman's classical chops, and a nice transition to his other side for those who are only familiar with jazz. One could only wish the Bartok had been recorded with the same technology as the rest, but it is nonetheless a treat to hear Bartok himself at the piano.

I've been a fan of Benny Goodman since I was a teenager. While still in high school I attended a couple concerts in Cleveland, OH in which Benny Goodman preformed with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra during the first half of the program and with his jazz quartet in the second half. The performances were great. At that time I did not realize that Benny was equally at home with classical music as he is with jazz and swing.The CD "Benny Goodman Collector's Edition" blew me away! Excellent performances!

I have often heard that musicians never really transcend their primary mode of playing. Benny Goodman, with his beautiful tone and phrasing, puts that theory to rest. Goodman learned on the classics and while he was the "King of Swing" he really could play well in this mileu as well. IMHO Goodman does a really good job, and never sounds less than beautiful and musical in his playing. I do detect a small amount of "Stiffness" in his interpretations here. It is reminiscent of being told to "Sit up straight." Perhaps that is because I am so used to hearing him loose and swinging. Here he plays straight down the line, and very straight laced. Still in all beautiful music, beautifully played.

Very quick delivery. Magnificent rare music

Wonderful gift for clarinetist friend.

This Collector's Edition CD should be an essential item for classical music lovers. I also think that it's most important for people to know that Benny Goodman was recognized not only for his brilliant work as a jazz clarinetist,but also for classical works which were written for and dedicated to him by leading composers of the 2oth century such as Bela Bartok and Aaron Copland.This is an excellent recording that I would highly recommend.

Item was received in new condition as advertised