"Mozart: Clarinet Concerto & Clarinet Quintet" (CD)
Benny Goodman will never be primarily associated with classical music. His contributions to big band-era jazz is inestimable. Somewhere on this blog his seminal 1938 Carnegie Hall concert has been/will be reviewed.
And yet, Aaron Copland wrote his (now famous) clarinet concerto for Goodman. Additionally, we have this recording, made with three of the biggest names in classical music during the first half of the 20th century: Charles Munch, the Boston Symphony and the Budapest String Quartet.
I won't say that Goodman's playing is the cleanest or most musical I've ever heard, but this is a worthwhile signpost in the evolution of 20th century performance. Also, it's good to note that a crossover artist is nothing new.
1 comment:
I did find this recording on LP - but it was a later re-issue and not the original RCA shaded dog with the colorful artwork. I'll continue to keep an eye out for that one...
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