A great little set – despite our initial fears about the package – and a really wonderful pairing of the talents of Count Basie and Benny Carter! We'll admit that we're the first ones to shy away from anything that says "Kansas City" in the title – as we expect a lot of hoke – but this album's a surprisingly great batch of tunes, original numbers written by Benny Carter in honor of the KC of days past, but arranged and performed by the Basie group in a swinging style that's got the best touches of their Roulette years, plus a bit of Ellingtonish ambition in the horn charts. Titles include "Katy Do", "Miss Missouri", "Jackson County Jubilee", "Sunset Glow", "Meetin Time", and "The Wiggle Walk". LP, Vinyl record album

Notable sidemen include Herb Ellis, Oscar Peterson, and Teddy Wilson. Features some rare bonus tracks too! CD

A great example of the cool, classy swing that Benny Carter hit in the 1960s – a groove that was more regularly brought to backings for standout singers of the time, but which also works beautifully here in an instrumental mode! Carter's alto sax is at the top of the charts, but the album's almost more of an ensemble effort overall – with great reed work from Bud Shank on alto, Teddy Edwards and Bill Perkins on tenor, Bill Hood on baritone sax, Don Abney on piano, Barney Kessell and Mundell Lowe on guitar – all coming together as kind of a mini-large ensemble – never that big in the number of players, but grooving with a great sense of poise, class, and soul. There's a number of originals written by Carter, including "Doozy", "Prohibido", "Come On Back", "Rock Bottom", "We Were In Love", and "Titmouse" CD

A great example of the cool, classy swing that Benny Carter hit in the 1960s – a groove that was more regularly brought to backings for standout singers of the time, but which also works beautifully here in an instrumental mode! Carter's alto sax is at the top of the charts, but the album's almost more of an ensemble effort overall – with great reed work from Bud Shank on alto, Teddy Edwards and Bill Perkins on tenor, Bill Hood on baritone sax, Don Abney on piano, Barney Kessell and Mundell Lowe on guitar – all coming together as kind of a mini-large ensemble – never that big in the number of players, but grooving with a great sense of poise, class, and soul. There's a number of originals written by Carter, including "Doozy", "Prohibido", "Come On Back", "Rock Bottom", "We Were In Love", and "Titmouse" CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

Includes the songs "Wonderland", "A Walkin' Thing", "The Courtship", "Malibu", "Sweet Lorraine", "When Lights Are Low", "My Kind of Trouble Is You", "(I'm Left With the) Blues In My Heart", "Moten Swing", "C Jam Blues", and "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)". CD

Sublime alto work from Benny Carter – a masterpiece of tone and timing that shows him at the height of his powers! Carter's sound alone is enough to sell the record, and it's wonderfully recorded by Norman Granz – but the rest of the group is a good fit too, and features Oscar Peterson on piano, Barney Kessel on guitar, Ray Brown on bass, and Buddy Rich on drums – all of whom lay back nicely to let Benny take the lead. Titles include "Pick Yourself Up", "Imagination", "Street Scene", and "I Get A Kick Out Of You". This 12" LP also features some added "with strings" material, too – titles that include "Blue Star", "I'll Be Around", "Can't We Be Friends", and "Symphony". LP, Vinyl record album

Benny Carter on alto saxophone, Ray Brown on bass, Bobby White, Buddy Rich, and J.C. Heard on drums, Oscar Peterson on piano, Barney Kessel and Herb Ellis on guitar, and Bill Harris on trombone. CD

A live set very much in classic Verve mode – produced by Benny himself, and recorded in Tokyo in 1977 with a group that includes Budd Johnson on tenor and soprano, Cecil Payne on baritone, Cat Anderson and Joe Newman on trumpet, Britt Woodman on trombone, Nat Pierce on piano, Mudell Lowe on guitar, George Duvivier on bass, and Harold Jones on drums. Tracks are long, and titles include "Them There Eyes", "It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing", and "Squatty Roo". LP, Vinyl record album

Notable players include Howard Johnson, Wayman Carver, Ernest Hill, Mezz Mezzrow, Teddy Wilson, Chu Berry, Wilbur De Paris, and Max Kaminsky. LP, Vinyl record album

A surprisingly great album – even if it's short on information! There's no real dates on this one, so we have to assume that it's of the vintage of the album's release date – somewhere in the early 60s – making the album pretty late for Benny, but also pretty great as well! The sessions have a pretty unique feel – with Benny's alto in front of gentle small group backings that have a bit of a sweet feel – and some occasional vocal chorus bits that slide in and out very gracefully. Carter's tone is tremendous, and the sound of the record is really incredible – hard to describe, but much more than you'd expect from the title, label, and the date! Titles include "Waltz Gay", "Bagatelle", "Blues For Benny", "Black Knight", and "Cuando Caliente El Sol". LP, Vinyl record album

A key later album from alto saxophonist Benny Carter – one that has him at the helm of a largeish group, but playing with a nicely focused sort of groove! In addition to Benny's alto, the record also features tenor sax from Charlie Rouse and Coleman Hawkins, plus one more alto from Phil Woods – supported by rhythm from John Collins on guitar, Dick Katz on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Jo Jones on drums. The tunes are traditional, but have some sharper-edged modern ideas on some of the solos – and there's a nicely echoey feel to the production, which further adds to the quality of the record. The album's a bit like a Swingville session for Prestige, but has a bit more going on – and titles include "Doozy", "Blue Star", "Midnight Sun Will Never Set", and "Crazy Rhythm". LP, Vinyl record album

A key later album from alto saxophonist Benny Carter – one that has him at the helm of a largeish group, but playing with a nicely focused sort of groove! In addition to Benny's alto, the record also features tenor sax from Charlie Rouse and Coleman Hawkins, plus one more alto from Phil Woods – supported by rhythm from John Collins on guitar, Dick Katz on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Jo Jones on drums. The tunes are traditional, but have some sharper-edged modern ideas on some of the solos – and there's a nicely echoey feel to the production, which further adds to the quality of the record. The album's a bit like a Swingville session for Prestige, but has a bit more going on – and titles include "Doozy", "Blue Star", "Midnight Sun Will Never Set", and "Crazy Rhythm". CD also features a full bonus album – the record Additions To Further Definitions! CD

A well-titled album from the great Benny Carter – already a giant in jazz, thanks to countless years blowing the alto sax as a leader and sideman in other groups – really opening up a fresh chapter of his career in a great run of smaller combo work in the second half of the 50s! This set's a great demonstration of the way that Carter was able to bring an older jazz experience into more modern modes in the postwar years – an edge on his horn that's still one of the most distinct voices on the alto, yet very different than Charlie Parker or other modernists who came after him – exquisitely matched here in a combo that includes Ben Webster on tenor, Frank Rosolino on trombone, and Barney Kessel on guitar. Rosolino and Webster drop out on two tracks, piano is by Andre Previn or Jimmy Rowles, and the group's completed by Leroy Vinnegar on bass and Shelly Manne on drums. Titles include "Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me", "Blue Lou", "A Walkin Thing", and "Old Fashioned Love". CD

A well-titled album from the great Benny Carter – already a giant in jazz, thanks to countless years blowing the alto sax as a leader and sideman in other groups – really opening up a fresh chapter of his career in a great run of smaller combo work in the second half of the 50s! This set's a great demonstration of the way that Carter was able to bring an older jazz experience into more modern modes in the postwar years – an edge on his horn that's still one of the most distinct voices on the alto, yet very different than Charlie Parker or other modernists who came after him – exquisitely matched here in a combo that includes Ben Webster on tenor, Frank Rosolino on trombone, and Barney Kessel on guitar. Rosolino and Webster drop out on two tracks, piano is by Andre Previn or Jimmy Rowles, and the group's completed by Leroy Vinnegar on bass and Shelly Manne on drums. Titles include "Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me", "Blue Lou", "A Walkin Thing", and "Old Fashioned Love". LP, Vinyl record album

One of those great dates from Benny Carter's later years – a time when he'd stepped back from doing big arrangements, working with larger group, and returned to some of the smaller combo modes that really made him great during his 50s years on Verve! No surprise, this set's produced by Norman Granz, with just the right easygoing flair to open up the most soulful aspects of Carter's alto sax – set up nicely in a group that also features Milt Jackson on vibes, Joe Pass on guitar, and Tommy Flanagan on piano. Titles include the sweet original "A Walkin Thing" – almost a soul jazz number – plus "Easy Money", "Blue Star", "I Still Love Him So", "Green Wine", and "Malibu". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A bracingly simple album from Benny Carter – one recorded with small group west coast backing, in a style that really lets us focus on his wonderful tone! The set's one of Carter's most obscure from later years – a 1960 session recorded with Jimmy Rowles on piano, Leroy Vinnegar on bass, and Mel Lewis on drums – and mostly featuring older numbers interpreted by Carter with a great deal of charm, and simple but effective work on the solos. Benny plays alto on most of the set, but also overdubs tenor on 2 tracks, and plays a bit of soprano on another. Titles include "Ennui", "Moon Of Manakoora", "I Should Care", "Far Away Places", "Friendly Islands", "Understand", and "All Or Nothing At All". CD

A bracingly simple album from Benny Carter – one recorded with small group west coast backing, in a style that really lets us focus on his wonderful tone! The set's one of Carter's most obscure from later years – a 1960 session recorded with Jimmy Rowles on piano, Leroy Vinnegar on bass, and Mel Lewis on drums – and mostly featuring older numbers interpreted by Carter with a great deal of charm, and simple but effective work on the solos. Benny plays alto on most of the set, but also overdubs tenor on 2 tracks, and plays a bit of soprano on another. Titles include "Ennui", "Moon Of Manakoora", "I Should Care", "Far Away Places", "Friendly Islands", "Understand", and "All Or Nothing At All". LP, Vinyl record album

Benny Carter plays with The American Jazz Orchestra, directed by John Lewis, with John Eckert, Virgil Jones, Bob Millikan, and Marvin Stamm on trumpets, Eddie Bert, Jack Jeffers, Jimmy Knepper, and Britt Woodman on trombones, Bill Easley and John Purcell on alto and flute, Loren Schoenberg on tenor, Lew Tabackin on tenor and flute, Danny Bank on baritone and bass clarinet, Dick Katz and John Lewis on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Mel Lewis on drums. CD

Dream session indeed, as this date brings together Eddie Henderson, Benny Golson, George Coleman, Grover Washington, Jaki Byard, and Ron Carter – plus a crack group of younger players including Roy Hargrove, Nicholas Payton, Joe Locke, and Ed Thigpen – performing a great set of songs made famous by Miles Davis! Titles include Davis classics "All Blues" and "So What", plus standard "My Funny Valentine" and "I Thought About You", as well as the original "Davis", penned by Benny Golson. CD

Accompanied by Ray Brown on bass, Benny Carter on alto, Ron Eschete on guitar, Marshall Otwell on piano, and Jimmie Smith on drums. (Vocalists, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

With Roy Eldridge on trumpet, Benny Carter on alto, Zoot Sims on tenor, Vic Dickenson and Al Grey on trombone, Ray Brown on bass, and Jimmie Smith on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

Backing by Shelly Manne & His Men – including Benny Carter on alto. (Vocalists, Jazz) CD

Features unreleased bonus material! Includes Phil Woods on alto and clarinet, Ron Carter on bass, Grady Tate on drums, Mike Maineri on vibes, and Richard Wyands on piano. CD

Lots of rare work from the great trumpeter – material from the albums Roy & Diz, Roy & Diz Vol 2, Little Jazz, Rockin Chair, Dales Wail, Trumpet Battle, Trumpet Kings, Ralph Burns Among The JATPs, Swing Goes Dixie, That Warm Feeling, The Urbane Jazz Of Roy Eldridge/Benny Carter, Swingin On The Town, Tour De Force, and other 10" and compilation tracks too. CD

Classic Jam Session work from Norman Granz – featuring a group with Stan Getz, Harry Edison, Wardell Gray, Benny Carter, Willie Smith, Buddy De Franco, Count Basie, and Freddie Green – on two long tracks, "Oh Lady Be Good" and "Blues For The Count". The session's got a number of interesting aspects – Basie plays organ, Getz is a bit harder than usual, and Willie Smith sounds great, as always, in one of his rare appearances from the time. LP, Vinyl record album

Notable sidemen include Benny Carter, Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Milt Jackson on vibes, John Lewis, Milt Hinton, Ray Brown, and Kenny Clarke. 43 tracks total. CD

Nice 2LP set that brings together some of his most striking sessions of the early 60s recorded for Emarcy. This set includes pieces composed and arranged by Lalo Schifrin played by a large ensemble led by Benny Carter – with Dizzy as the main soloist, and work by players that include James Moody, Phil Woods, Emil Richards, Francisco Aguabella, and Schifrin himself. Tracks are long, and have complicated introductions – then easily give way to the sort of flowing grooves that Schifrin was penning often at the time. Titles include "The Conquerors", "The Chains", "The Swords", "The Empire", and "The Legend Of Atlantis". The set also features Diz playing tracks from Tom McIntosh, one of the scene's brightest arrangers at the time, and a talent who was looming large, thanks to support from folks like Diz and James Moody. Moody's in the group – blowing tenor with a quintet that includes Kenny Barron on piano, Chris White on bass, and Rudy Collins on drums – and his tone is incredible, with a darkness that he'd rarely had before, and the whole group has a mixture of modern tones and soulful grooves that's beyond compare! Titles include "November Afternoon", "The Cup Bearers", "The Day After". Also included are songs from the soundtrack for the lost Shirley Clarke verite drama The Cool World. Mal Waldron wrote the material for the score, and Diz plays the music with a moody emotionality that you don't often hear in his other 60's work. The recording was made by his great group that included Kenny Barron and James Moody, and the titles include "The Pushers", "Duke's Fantasy", "Coney Island", and "Street Music". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful assortment of Dizzy Gillespie work from the Verve years – small combo, big band, bebop, and wonderfully groovy! Other players include Kenny Barron, Benny Carter, Roy Eldridge, Stan Getz, Wynton Kelly, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, and Sonny Rollins. CD

A wickedly great album from Dizzy Gillespie – one of his most striking sessions of the early 60s, and a perfect blend of his Latin and modern modes! The album features an extended suite – composed and arranged by Lalo Schifrin, who'd just begun working with Dizzy at the time, and who was inflecting his sound with a lot of South American grooves. The work's played by a large ensemble led by Benny Carter – with Dizzy as the main soloist, and work by players that include James Moody, Phil Woods, Emil Richards, Francisco Aguabella, and Schifrin himself. Tracks are long, and have complicated introductions – then easily give way to the sort of flowing grooves that Schifrin was penning often at the time. Titles include "The Chains", "The Swords", "The Empire", and "The Legend Of Atlantis". LP, Vinyl record album

A wickedly great album from Dizzy Gillespie – one of his most striking sessions of the early 60s, and a perfect blend of his Latin and modern modes! The album features an extended suite – composed and arranged by Lalo Schifrin, who'd just begun working with Dizzy at the time, and who was inflecting his sound with a lot of South American grooves. The work's played by a large ensemble led by Benny Carter – with Dizzy as the main soloist, and work by players that include James Moody, Phil Woods, Emil Richards, Francisco Aguabella, and Schifrin himself. Tracks are long, and have complicated introductions – then easily give way to the sort of flowing grooves that Schifrin was penning often at the time. Titles include "The Chains", "The Swords", "The Empire", and "The Legend Of Atlantis". CD

Without a doubt, Benny Golson is one of the most underrated tenorists of his generation – a player with a tone and conception that's always tremendous – but which comes across especially well on this early 60s session for Argo Records! As you might guess from the title, things aren't as tightly structured as on some of Benny's more arranged albums of the period – and he opens up wonderfully in a small group setting – playing in a beautifully confident tone, but with a slightly raspy edge – cutting, changing, and swinging perfectly in lines that are masterfully crafted, yet full of raw emotion. The group's a thoughtful quartet, and includes Tommy Flanagan on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Art Taylor on drums – and tracks that inlcude "Sock Cha", "Shades Of Stein", "Just By Myself", and "Just In Time". LP, Vinyl record album

Without a doubt, Benny Golson is one of the most underrated tenorists of his generation – a player with a tone and conception that's always tremendous – but which comes across especially well on this early 60s session for Argo Records! As you might guess from the title, things aren't as tightly structured as on some of Benny's more arranged albums of the period – and he opens up wonderfully in a small group setting – playing in a beautifully confident tone, but with a slightly raspy edge – cutting, changing, and swinging perfectly in lines that are masterfully crafted, yet full of raw emotion. The group's a thoughtful quartet, and includes Tommy Flanagan on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Art Taylor on drums – and tracks that inlcude "Sock Cha", "Shades Of Stein", "Just By Myself", and "Just In Time". CD

Features Benny Golson, Branford Marsalis, James Carter, and fellow tenor Harold Ashby performing tracks made famous by Lester Young, Stan Getsz, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, Dexter Gordon, and others. CD

With sidemen that include Terry Gibbs on vibes, Teddy Wilson on piano, Mundell Lowe and Johnny Smith on guitar, Bob Carter and Sid Weiss on bass, Terry Snyder and Don Lamond on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

Features Nat King Cole, Coleman Hawkins, Benny Carter, and Ziggy Elman. CD

A nice overview of Coleman Hawkins' career in a great 2LP set, containing material recorded between 1939 and 1947, and later work recorded in 1956. Most of the early work is in a wonderful small group format that lets Hawkins' tenor really come to the forefront. Other players on the sessions include Benny Carter, JC Higginbotham, Allen Eager, Peter Brown, and Budd Johnson – and titles include "Half Step Down Please", "Bouncing With Bean", "Meet Doctor Foo", "Spotlite", "Low Flame", and "Jumping For Jane". The later work features the orchestra of Billy Byers, including soloists Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, and Hank Jones. Coleman's the main blower, though – and the arrangements have a solid base that lets him open up in that exploratory tone he was crafting during the time. And although tracks are short, there's a heck of a lot of soul packed into them – recorded with impeccable quality, much more so than earlier sides. Titles include "I Never Knew", "Bean & The Boys", "The Essence of You", "Have You Met Miss Jones", "Dinner For One Please, James", and "I'm Shooting High". LP, Vinyl record album

Rare Commodore Records sides by Coleman Hawkins – including some never issued on 78s! The tracks here are pulled from two sessions – one in 1940 with Roy Eldridge on trumpet, Benny Carter on alto, Bernard Addison on guitar, John Kirby on bass, and Sid Catlett on drums; and from 1943 with Cootie Williams on trumpet, Edmond Hall on clarinet, Art Tatum on piano, Al Casey on guitar, Oscar Pettiford on bass, and Sid Catlett on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

Features work with Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra, the Mound City Blue Blowers, Ben Webster, Thelonious Monk, Sonny Rollins, Benny Carter, Max Roach, and Duke Ellington. CD