Benny Goodman – “Live at Carnegie Hall 1938” – Album Review

ALBUM REVIEW, By Nick Ellman of Naughty Professor

Benny Goodman’s album, Live at Carnegie Hall 1938 is a historical masterpiece and Benny Goodman delivers a stunning performance as usual. With the country on the brink of war, Benny Goodman was extremely popular and also a bit controversial at the time. Goodman was a Jewish man playing Black American music and the Nazi party saw him as a threat while his fame was rising. He was one of the first white bandleaders to regularly hire black musicians and this concert was among many firsts including one of the first (if not the first) live jazz albums ever recorded.

The program was billed as “20 Years Of Jazz” and designed by Benny Goodman to showcase the evolution of the genre. He saw this as an opportunity to legitimize swing music as it was the first concert of its kind at Carnegie Hall and, more importantly, the first time black and white musicians performed together on that stage. With the historical component and the high-level playing, this record might very well be my favorite clarinet album of all time. 

From the beginning of the concert, the band is firing on all cylinders with tight arrangements and lively improvisations. Benny Goodman takes the first solo of the night on “Don’t Be That Way” and commands the audience’s attention with his dynamic range and virtuosic talent. Even when accompanied by a big band, Goodman has the ability to draw the band and listener in to tell his story. With his playful inflections, pure tone and impeccable accuracy, Benny Goodman wows the audience all night. 

Even with the star-studded special guests like Count Basie, Lester Young, Freddie Green and Johnny Hodges throughout, “Sing Sing Sing (With a Swing)” is the stand out track for me on this album. The call and response throughout the song is absolutely stunning. For the super nerds out there like me, Benny Goodman ends his solo with an altissimo C (an octave above high C two ledger lines above the staff). The spontaneity and excitement from the band while Benny Goodman is singing over the top with his clarinet and fitting perfectly in the pocket is what is most exciting to me. He truly earned his nickname, “King of Swing” and this album is pure gold.

TRACK LIST: 

Side One:

1. Benny Goodman Introduction
2. Don’t Be That Way
3. Sometimes I’m Happy
4. One O’Clock Jump
5. Applause, Transition to Twenty Years of Jazz
6. Sensation Rag
7. I’m Coming Virginia
8. When My Baby Smiles at Me
9. Shine
10. Blue Reverie
11. Applause; Transition Back to Goodman Orchestra
12. Life Goes to a Party
13. Setting Up for Jam Session
14. Honeysuckle Rose
15. Applause; Setting Up & Tuning Up for BG Small Groups
16. Body and Soul
17. Applause as Lionel Hampton Enters
18. Avalon
19. The Man I Love
20. I Got Rhythm
21. Pause Track

Side Two:

1. Blue Skies
2. Loch Lomond
3. Applause; Benny Goodman’s ‘No Encore’ Announcement
4. Blue Room
5. Swingtime In The Rockies
6. Applause; Martha Tilton Returns to Stage
7. Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen
8. Applause; Setting up for BG Small Groups
9. China Boy
10. Stompin’ at the Savoy
11. Applause; BG Quartet Continues but Change Program
12. Dizzy Spells 
13. Applause; Transition Back to Goodman Orchestra for Finale
14. Sing Sing Sing (With a Swing)
15. Applause Until Encores
16. If Dreams Come True
17. Applause for Second Encore
18. Big John’s Special
19. Pause Track
20. Introduction
21. Don’t Be That Way
22. Twenty Years of Jazz
23. Blue Reverie
24. Life Goes to a Party
25. Body and Soul
26. Avalon
27. Swingtime in the Rockies
28. Conclusion