Sol Yaged - It Might as Well Be Swing (2018)

Sol Yaged is one of the final living legends from the original era of American Big Band & Swing music. Born 1922, playing clarinet since 1935, Sol has played alongside every jazz great you can imagine from Glen Miller to Lionel Hampton to Gene Krupa. Known as “the disciple of Benny Goodman,” Sol was amazed by Goodman’s abilities and attended nearly every single Benny Goodman orchestra live show, band rehearsal, or recording date. So much so that when it came time to film the 1956 movie “The Benny Goodman Story” Sol Yaged was hired to fly out to Hollywood for a month to teach lead role Steve Allen how to play, look and act like Benny Goodman. Now 95 years old, Sol continues to remain a world-renown clarinetist and legend in the underground jazz, big band and swing communities from players of all ages, especially in his home: New York City.

What lies before you is Sol’s debut LP release “It Might As Well Be Swing.” Released in 1956 and out of print since 1962, Pine Hill Records and Sol Yaged teamed up to bring this wonderful album back to life with a limited edition reissue on white vinyl, digipak CD, and digital. This is the first time any Sol Yaged recording has been made available digitally. This album features fellow living legend Harry Sheppard on vibraphone. At 89 years old, Harry still performs regularly in Texas where he now lives. He remains the only other surviving musician on this album. The album was delicately and passionately remastered to make it sound the highest quality possible while keeping it true to its original sound. This is a very limited edition pressing of 300 LP’s [White vinyl w/ Download Card] and 300 Digipak CD’s. Pine Hill Records is honored to bring this back over 60 years after its original release. Sol and Harry are two wonderful people who have and continue to give their entire lives to music. Don't miss out on this piece of big band history!

Tracklist:
01. Sol Yaged - Yacht Club Swing
02. Sol Yaged - Easy Living
03. Sol Yaged - Love Me or Leave Me
04. Sol Yaged - I'll Never Be the Same
05. Sol Yaged - It Might as Well Be Swing
06. Sol Yaged - Auf Wiedersehen My Dear
07. Sol Yaged - Lulu's Back in Town
08. Sol Yaged - After You've Gone