It’s hard to appreciate the fact nowadays, but at one time, this nerdy looking bespeckled Jewish kid changed the whole musical world by introducing this wildly exciting and progressive sounding music called “swing” to a generation of people growing up in the Depression. To this day, we describe the best part of jazz by whether it swings or not. Such was the influence of Benny Goodman, who is given a salute here by clarinetist Julian Bliss and his team of Neal Thornton/p, Jim Hart/vibes, Martin Shaw/tp, Colin Oxley/g, Tim Thornton/b and Matt Skelton/dr.
Bliss’ gorgeous and classical sounding tone, with a hint of Goodman’s warmth, is on lovely display on the opening of “Caprice No. 24, while his sense of drive and energy is highlighted on “Avalon” and “Seven Come Eleven.” The whole band sounds gentlemanly on “Don’t Be That Way/Stompin’ at the Savoy” with some warm trumpet soloing provided by Shaw, while some slick guitar licks are delivered by Oxley on a hip “Soft Winds.” The arrangements keep close to the originals, which is a coin flip these days, as most people have probably never heard this stuff that set the world on fire about 80 years ago.
Signum Classics