Benny Carter - Jazz Giant - Hybrid SACD

This Hybrid SACD contains a standard layer which can be played in any CD player, and a high-resolution layer which requires a SACD player.

Released as part of the Acoustic Sounds Series celebrating 70 years of Contemporary Records, Saxophonist Benny Carter’s Jazz Giant album features performances by André Previn, Shelly Manne, Barney Kessel and Ben Webster amongst others. First released in 1958 and recorded by legendary engineer Roy DuNann, this new edition features remastered audio from the original tapes.

Benny Carter had already been a major jazz musician for nearly 30 years when he recorded this particularly strong septet session for Contemporary. With notable contributions from tenor saxophonist Ben Webster, trombonist Frank Rosolino and guitarist Barney Kessel, Carter (who plays a bit of trumpet on "How Can You Lose") is in superb form on a set of five standards and two of his originals. This timeless music is beyond the simple categories of "swing" or "bop" and should just be called "classic."

Scott Yanow