Sunday, January 12, 2020

100 Jazz Tunes Everyone Should Hear (#7) Benny Goodman Live at Carnegie Hall 1938


#7 - Benny Goodman * Live at Carnegie Hall * Sing Sing Sing * January 16, 1938

Considered by many to be the most important jazz concert ever given, "Sing Sing Sing" was the symphonic capstone to a monumental evening. The band's virtuosity is full throttle, from Benny's solo presence (which remarkably runs a range of emotion from commanding to introspective to almost prayerful), to career defining moments by Gene Krupa, Harry James, and Jess Stacy. 






This is not a comprehensive list, nor is it representative of the "most important" or "best." Instead, following Duke Ellington's adage that the greatest music and musicians are "beyond category", I'm starting 2020 by sharing 100 jazz tunes I feel everyone should have the chance to hear--really just tunes and performances that I love. ]