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Benny Carter Archive

Jean-François Bonnel And His Swinging Jazz Cats – With Thanks To Benny Carter – Arbors Records

by Audiophile Audition | May 15, 2017 | Jazz CD Reviews

Jean-François Bonnel And His Swinging Jazz Cats – With Thanks To Benny Carter – Arbors Records ARCD 19452 51:25**** Thoughtful and creative interpreters of Benny Carter’s music ( Jean-François Bonnel – alto sax, clarinet #3,10; Chris Dawson – piano; Charmin Michelle – vocals #1,3,4,5,7,10; François Laudet – drums) Benny Carter was a true jazz original. A top of the line trumpeter as well as a pure alto saxophonist, he made a unique contribution to the jazz world. Therefore it may seem passing strange that it would be a couple of French jazz musicians to delve into Carter’s world and come up with a dandy release entitled With Thanks To Benny Carter. In this ten track session, the band delves into compositions either written by Carter or those connected to him via his recordings. For those who may be unfamiliar with Jean-François Bonnel, he is a highly regarded French musician, who doubles on alto and clarinet. He took a serious interest in Carter’s saxophone style by transcribing his solos and also studying his compositions. While not playing entirely in Carter’s manner he is certainly informed by his technique. One of Carter’s best known numbers “When Lights Are Low” leads off the session […]

Eight Christmas CDs for the 2016 Holidays

by Audiophile Audition | Dec 8, 2016 | Special Features

Eight Christmas CDs of Note, Holidays 2016 “Song of the Nativity” – The Sixteen/ Harry Christophers – Coro COR16146, 73:58 (10/14/16) [Distr. by Naxos] *****: This wonderful Christmas offering comprises some of the best modern carols and choral works of the modern age, sung to absolute perfection by a noted and very reliable ensemble. The sound is first rate and the dynamic range of this group never fails to astound. Fortunately, there are also seven traditional carols thrown into the mix, and they are taken, as directly as possible, from the classic Oxford Book of Carols from 1928. After all the Christmas albums that turn these gems inside out with never-ending permutations and cleverly assembled variances, hearing them in this form, sans ego and overly-stoked imagination, is a real and very genuine pleasure. This album will serve as a balm to over-jaded holiday sensibilities, and help to recapture the real meaning of the season. TrackList: Bullard, A: And all the stars looked down Chilcott: Shepherd’s Carol Davies, Walford: O Little Town of Bethlehem Gardner, John: When Christ was born of Mary free Ireland: The Holy Boy Jackson, Gabriel: The Christ-child Lauridsen: O magnum mysterium MacMillan: The Strathclyde Motets: O Radiant […]