They All Had Rhythm '45-'46

Performer: Benny Carter (Sax)
Producer: Alastair Robertson
Distributor: Griffin

Notes: Personnel: Benny Carter (alto saxophone, trumpet); Lu Elliott, Lucy Elliot, Herb Jeffries, Jimmy Mundy (vocals); James Cannady, Herman Mitchell, Irving Ashby, Bill Sexton (guitar); Juan Tizol (violin, trombone, valve trombone); Barney Bigard (clarinet); Floyd Turnham, Jewell L. Grant, Joel Epps, Porter Kilbert, Bob Graettinger, Willie Smith, Les Robinson (alto saxophone); Vernon Slater, Harold Clark, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis & His Tenor Sax And Rhythm , Bumps Myers, Maurice Simon, Hubert "Bumps" Myers, Lucky Thompson, Babe Russin (tenor saxophone); Willard Brown, John Taylor , Clark Dick (baritone saxophone); Clyde Hurley, Ira Pettiford, Fred Trainer, Emmett Berry, Calvin Strickland, Gerald Wilson, Hobart Dotson, Irving Lewis, Ray Linn, Snooky Young, Red Kelly, Paul Cohen (trumpet); Ralph Bledsoe, Candy Ross, Isaac Livingstone, Charley Johnson, Alton Moore, Bobby Sanchez, George Washington , Henry Coker, J.J. Johnson , Johnny Morris , Al Grey, Louis Taylor , Melba Liston, Vernon Brown, Britt Woodman (trombone); Eddie Beal, Rufus Webster, Jimmy Bunn, Milt Raskin, Sonny White (piano); Ray Hagan, Henry Green, Max Roach, Percy Brice (drums); Gerald Wilson & His Orchestra, Jimmy Mundy & His All Stars, Benny Carter & His Orchestra . Liner Note Author: Chris Sheridan. Recording information: 03/19/1945-11/15/1946. Arrangers: Gerald Wilson; Jimmy Mundy. Although Benny Carter gets first billing, three swing orchestras (all based in Los Angeles) are actually featured on this CD, which is comprised of music taken from Jubilee radio broadcasts of 1945-1946. The first six numbers are by Jimmy Mundy & the Jubilee All Stars, a part-time big band that includes altoist Willie Smith and tenor saxophonist Lucky Thompson. Mundy, who wrote four of the six numbers and arranged all six tunes, also takes a rare vocal on "Rhythm Was All I Had." Trumpeter/arranger Gerald Wilson's band is heard on three numbers, including extended versions of "Stardust" and "Out of This World." The remaining 11 selections are from a couple versions of Benny Carter's orchestra. Carter, who also provided the arrangements, is heard on alto and trumpet and his soloists included trombonist J.J. Johnson, trumpeter Emmett Berry, tenor saxophonist Bumps Myers, pianist Sonny White, and drummer Max Roach. Despite it being the mid-'40s, very little influence is heard from bop at this point, just little hints here and there, so this is very much a late-period swing set featuring three underrated orchestras. ~ Scott Yanow

An altoist of astonishing longevity, Carter is playing in his 90s better than he did when he broke in with Earl Hines in the late '20s. Also an exceptional arranger, he wrote charts in the '30s and '40s for Ellington, Basie, Henderson, and many others, not to mention his own band. During the next few decades he became involved with film scoring, and, while eschewing performance, did the occasional record date. In recent years, he has resumed a touring schedule, deploying the familiar light, graceful style that nonetheless bristles with intelligence.

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