Benny Goodman Arrangements By Fletcher Henderson/Arrangements By Eddie Sauter CD

Recorded between 1939 & 1953. Originally released on Columbia. Includes liner notes by Chris Connor.

Columbia Records had so neglected most of its classic jazz catalog, in terms of both the frequency and quality of reissues, that it was not a huge surprise when this combination of two LPs on one CD appeared on the Collectables label in 2000 -- the 75 minutes of music here represents some of the prime work of Benny Goodman's favorite arranger, Fletcher Henderson, and his best arranger, Eddie Sauter, and it sort of pays for itself with the opening track (in the Henderson material, no less), a stomping rendition of "Honeysuckle Rose" featuring a hot solo by guitarist Charlie Christian. The nine instrumental cuts from the Henderson album, dating from 1939 and 1940, are augmented with a trio of new vocal numbers featuring singer Helen Ward and dating from 1953, but the producers have been very successful at matching the sound in the numbers from across 14 years, and the personnel are careful to match their playing. The Sauter-arranged sides are more surprising and challenging instrumentally, and include Peggy Lee or Helen Forrest on vocals on a handful of tracks. The production is excellent overall, and there's no reason that this material couldn't have been part of Sony's Legacy reissue line, except for the general neglect of the Goodman Columbia library. ~ Bruce Eder

Henderson,Arrangements By Eddie Sauter

2 LPs in 1 CD: ARRANGEMENTS BY FLETCHER HENDERSON (1953)/ARRANGEMENTS BY EDDIE SAUTER (1953).

Performers includes: Benny Goodman (clarinet); Fletcher Henderson (arranger, piano); Eddie Sauter (arranger); Helen Ward, Helen Forrest, Peggy Lee (vocals); Ziggy Elman, Cootie Williams (trumpet); Mel Powell, Johnny Guarnieri (piano); Charlie Christian (guitar).

Personnel: Benny Goodman (clarinet); Helen Forrest, Helen Ward, Peggy Lee , Art Lund (vocals); Mike Bryan, Arnold Covarrubias, Tommy Morganelli, Barry Galbraith, Charlie Christian (guitar); Chuck Gentry, Buff Estes, Bus Bassey, Al Epstein, Bob Snyder, Gus Bivona, Bill Shine, Clint Neagley, Danny Bank, Gene Kinsey, Hymie Shertzer, Stan Kosow, Georgie Auld, Boomie Richmond, Jack Henderson , Aaron Sachs, Skip Martin , Toots Mondello, George Berg, Al Klink, Pete Mondello, Milt Yaner (saxophone); Sol Kane, Les Robinson (alto saxophone); Art Ralston (baritone saxophone); Chris Griffin , Al Cuozzo, Irving Goodman, Alec FILA, Cootie Williams, Frank LePinto, Alvin Davis, Vince Badale, Corky Cornelius, Johnny Martel, Ziggy Elman, Billy Butterfield, Jimmy Maxwell, Stan Fishelson, Bernie Privin (trumpet); Eddie Aulino, Sy Shaeffer, Red Gingler, Bob Cutshall, Chauncey Welsh, Bruce Squires, Lou McGarity, Vernon Brown, Bill Pritchard, Trummy Young, Red Ballard (trombone); Fletcher Henderson, Johnny Guarnieri, Bernie Leighton, Mel Powell, Charlie Queener (piano); Harry Jaeger, Dave Tough, Don Lamond, Morey Feld, Nick Fatool, Ralph Collier (drums).

Liner Note Authors: George Avakian; Mark Marymont.

Recording information: 08/11/1939-03/17/1945.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Cootie Williams; Helen Forrest; Charlie Christian.

Arrangers: Eddie Sauter; Fletcher Henderson.