BENNY CARTER- ALTO SAX
JOE WILDER- TRUMPET/ FLUGELHORN
SCOTT HAMILTON- TENOR SAX
ED BICKERT- GUITAR
GENE HARRIS- PIANO
JOHN CLAYTON- BASS
JIMMIE SMITH- DRUMS
Wow! I really really really liked this album!
I have heard Benny Carter several times on the radio, but his death prompted my to go to the library and see what they had. I'm lucky they had this treasure.
"Sometimes I'm Happy" is a great opener, nice and swinging.
"A Kiss From You" is excellent, I have heard it on the radio before and I did not mind hearing it again. Scott Hamilton's tenor sax is so wonderfully soft and warm, and John Clayton's arco solo is especially interesting.
"Blues for George" is a low key blues tribute to a deceased musician. The whole thing is a very fitting and soulful tribute. I especially liked Gene Harris' solo, he had some interesting piano effects going there.
I could tell that "Thing's Ain't What the Used to Be" was going to be an all-put swinger just by Harris's opening. Everybody WAILS on it, you would think that Benny's horn would have melted and Harris's keyboard would have caught fire! ;-) My favorite track.
"Lover Man" is slow and thoughtful after the previous track's all-out fire. Benny and Joe's harmonizing is beautiful, and Benny gets in some very nice solo work.
and "Idaho" is a great ending piece. It swings and everybody gets in solo time.
Wow! Can you guess that this is now one of my favorite discs? I just hope I can return it when the time comes. ;-)
Benny Carter- A Gentleman and His Music
Linear Mode
