[Dixielandjazz] Benny Carter's Passing....A Truly Great Loss

[Don Ingle]

This is indeed a sad bit of news.
I would have to disagree with Carter being a little bit below Hodge s-- each
was unique in his own talents and approach and should be thought of for the
originality of each player.
Benny was working doing orchestratons for  (I think) MGM in the 50's and I
met him for the first time though my dad, who had met him often over the
years in the business and admired Benny's alto and other reed and trumpet
work. It was a moment to remember for I had many of his early records in my
collection at the time and thought he had the most fluid and tasty alto
sound around. A little bit of hero worship.
His was a multi-talented career - a long one -- and one to remember through
his many recorded works.
Don Ingle
----- Original Message -----
From: <Nickdragos at cs.com>
To: <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2003 1:08 PM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Benny Carter's Passing....A Truly Great Loss


> Listers,
>
> The passing yesterday {July 2th} of Benny Carter gives us all a moment
> {although I'm sure it would take most jazz fans much longer} to reflect on
this
> genius and his lasting contributions to this music we all love.
>
> Admittedly, I placed him below Johnny Hodges on my list of Alto Sax
Giants,
> but his unique, readily identifiable creamy alto sax tone & style, his
> personalized trumpet & clarinet work, his composing, arranging &
bandleading careers
> are certainly worth examining.
>
> When I checked his website....www.BennyCarter.com..... early Sunday morn
{I
> had heard months ago he was slowly declining health-wise, and usually
checked
> his site once a week or more for news) and read of his death yesterday in
a Los
> Angeles hospital, I dug into my collection of NPR's "Jazz Profiles" and
> listened to that all-too-brief 54 minute overview of his career.
>
> My God......the accomplishments of the man are astounding.
>
> Trying to list them are insane...there are just too many great solos,
> interesting little-known gems, fine & underappreciated compositions, great
recorded
> performances....
> so, a few highlights:
>
> 1930's "Dee Blues" on clarinet
>
> The 1937 "Crazy Rhythm" with Django Reinhardt & Coleman Hawkins (and the
> re-working of that arrangement on the "Further Definitions" Inpulse! LP of
1961
>
> The Lionel Hampton small-group gem of Carter's composition "When Lights
Are
> Low" with Coleman Hawkins, Chu Berry, Charlie Christian and other greats
>
> That swinging Concord Jazz disc "A Gentleman & His Music" with Joe Wilder
&
> Gene Harris (another pianist I miss so much after his passing a few years
ago)
>
> And several fun cuts from his prolific years recording for MusicMasters
Jazz,
> including all the vocalists singing his compositions on the 2 "Benny
Carter
> Songbooks".....I bet some vocalists looking for new material could pick up
some
> tunes from those two CDs
>
> I could go on, but I already have......
>
> Goodbye, and Thank You, Benny Carter....for Swing, for Style, for Grace,
for
> being a Gentleman, and for sharing your incredible multi-talents with a
world
> that, far too often, overlooked your efforts.
>
> Nick Dragos, Sacramento, California USA
> NickDragos at cs.com
>
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