[Dixielandjazz] Carnegie Hall 1938 Goodman

[Stephen Barbone]

Here is a history of the Benny Goodman 1938 Carnegie Hall recording that
prompted Dick Broadie to take up a long and successful musical career.
>From http://www.wrkf.org/tinpan4.html
I apologice for the all caps, don't know how to change them.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone


ON JANUARY 16, 1938, IMPRESSARIO SOL HUROK, IN CONJUNCTION WITH BENNY,
RENTED CARNEGIE HALL IN NEW YORK CITY TO PRESENT THE FIRST JAZZ CONCERT
EVER HELD IN THAT REVERED HOME OF CLASSICAL MUSIC. BENNY, AT THE
SUGGESTION OF JOHN HAMMOND, WEALTHY MUSIC ENTHUSIAST, INVITED NOT ONLY
ALL THE MEMBERS OF HIS BAND BUT ALSO MEMBERS OF THE COUNT BASIE AND DUKE
ELLINGTON BANDS. THE WRITTEN PROGRAM STATED "THE AUDIENCE IS ASKED TO
ACCEPT THE JAM SESSION IN THE SPIRIT OF EXPERIMENTATION WITH THE HOPE
THAT THE PROPER ATMOSPHERE WILL BE ESTABLISHED." IT WAS QUICKLY
ESTABLISHED WHEN THE PROGRAM OPENED WITH "DON'T BE THAT WAY.

THE REVIEWS WERE DIVERSE BUT GENERALLY ENCOURAGING. SOMEONE REMARKED TO
BENNY THAT IT WAS TOO BAD SOMEBODY HADN'T MADE A RECORD OF THE CONCERT,
AND HE REPLIED "SOMEBODY DID." ENGINEERS FROM THE COLUMBIA BROADCASTING
SYSTEM HAD HUNG A SINGLE MICROPHONE ABOVE THE STAGE AND HAD RUN A
TELEPHONE LINE TO THEIR
CBS STUDIOS. THERE THE CONCERT WAS RECORDED. A DUPLICATE SET WAS MADE
AND GIVEN TO THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. BENNY TOOK THE OTHER SET HOME, PUT
IT IN A CLOSET, AND FORGOT ABOUT IT.

IT SEEMS INCONCEIVABLE THAT COLUMBIA WOULDN'T HAVE APPROACHED THE
CONCERT WITHOUT THINKING FIRST OF RECORDING AND SELLING IT, BUT THEY
DIDN'T. IN 195O, BENNY'S DAUGHTER, RACHEL, RUMMAGING AROUND IN THE
CLOSET FOUND THE RECORDS. "WHAT ARE THESE?" SHE WANTED TO KNOW. BENNY
WISELY HAD THEM TRANSFERRED TO TAPE, AND
THE 1938 CARNEGIE HALL JAZZ CONCERT WAS PRODUCED AND RELEASED ON TWO
COLUMBIA LP'S THAT SAME YEAR.