Monday, April 28, 2014

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Benny Carter

Artist:Benny Carter f/Oscar Peterson
Song:Laura
Album:Cosmopolite: The Oscar Peterson Verve Sessions




This CD is a compilation of recordings by two of the all time greats of jazz. Sax player Benny Carter started out in the 20s. Pianist Oscar Peterson was an up and comer in the early 50s. The two got together when Carter appeared on Norman Granz' Jazz At The Philharmonic concert series. They first recorded together in Sept. 1952. Some of the recordings were with an orchestra led by Joe Glover. Only the small group recordings are on this CD. They recorded together again in Sept. 1954. Laura was recorded at this session. Musicians were Bill Harris on trombone, Herb Ellis on guitar, Ray Brown on bass and Buddy Rich on drums. Some of the recordings from this session were released on the Benny Carter LP New Jazz Sounds and another one called Moonglow. But Laura looks like it was an orphan track that turned up on the 1955 LP Benny Carter Plays Pretty. That's why this CD is so useful. Granz would spread the recordings out over different LPs. Now you can get all of them on one CD. It's a must for fans of these two jazz legends. Carter and Peterson recorded one more session in 1954. And they reunited for the 1987 album Benny Carter Meets Oscar Peterson on Pablo Records. Here's a video for Laura by Benny Carter featuring Oscar Peterson.

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