This 77-minute survey of Benny Goodman's music begins with a teenaged clarinet virtuoso first establishing himself in the context of late 1920s Chicago jazz, then rapidly moving on to New York. In the process, he recorded with leading bands of the day, such as Red Nichols and his Five Pennies, and masters, like pianist Fats Waller. Goodman virtually created the swing era by combining the work of the best African American arrangers, such as Fletcher Henderson and Mary Lou Williams, with the best white musicians, like himself and drummer Gene Krupa, wrapping it up in a tightly rehearsed package. Recordings like "King Porter Stomp" and the extended "Sing, Sing, Sing" retain their excitement more than 60 years after they were recorded. Goodman also broke down social barriers when he featured black musicians on stage in his small groups, and those bands are well represented here. The trio with pianist Teddy Wilson plays "Body and Soul," "Avalon" adds vibraphonist Lionel Hampton, and there are four tracks by the sextet that introduced the great electric guitarist Charlie Christian to the world. Other highlights include the hit "Why Don't You Do Right," with an insinuating vocal by a young Peggy Lee, and the modernist "Undercurrent Blues" from 1949. --Stuart Broomer
