Benny Carter – Live And Well In Japan (1977)

Recorded live at Kosei Nenkin Hall in Tokyo, Japan in April 1977, this is a CD I bought for just the one track even though I had previously vowed I would never do it again. This time it was for "Tribute to Louis Armstrong". I struck it lucky as the rest of the album is very good. It's a truly beautiful mix of jazz, swing and blues. Carter plays alto saxophone and trumpet, Budd Johnson plays tenor and soprano saxophones, Cecil Payne plays baritone saxophone, Britt Woodman plays trombone, Cat Anderson and Joe Newman play trumpet, Nat Pierce is on the piano, Mundell Lowe on guitar, George Duvivier on bass and Harold Jones on the drums. I was particularly surprised to learn that the vocals on the third part of the tribute ("When You're Smiling") was in fact sung by trumpeter Cat Anderson. He sounds so much like Satch, I would've sworn it was the great man himself guest performing. The entire album is only 42 mins or so long but I still feel it's great value for the money. It has one of the best examples of audience enthusiasm and participation that I've heard on any live album. Great stuff.

Personnel:

Benny Carter - Alto Saxophone & Trumpet
Budd Johnson - Tenor & Soprane Saxophones
Cecil Paine - Baritone Saxophone
Cat Anderson - Trumpet
Joe Newman - Trumpet
Britt Woodman - Trombone
Nat Pierce - Piano
Mundell Lowe - Guitar
George Duvivier - Bass
Harold Jones – Drums

Tracklist:

01. Squatty Roo
02. Tribute to Louis Armstrong
03. Them There Eyes
04. It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)

Produced By Norman Granz
Recorded Live On April 29, 1977 At Kosei Nenkin Hall, Yokyo, Japan

Sound Quality: 8