HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Swing Jazz Master Benny Carter

Birth of Jazz: Benny Carter

Benny Carter

Photo: Rutgers University

Benny Carter was a clarinet, sax and trumpet performer who was born in Bronx, New York, on 8 August 1907. Leading big swing bands along the way of a solid recording career, his was to become a major name in jazz. Carter began his career in Harlem in 1924 as a sideman with various bands needing a reed or horn player. He first recorded with the Charlie Johnson Paradise Ten in 1927.

'Paradise Wobble' Benny Carter w Charlie Johnson's Paradise Ten

Carter's 1st known recording on 25 Feb 1927 Matrix 38115-1 Victor 20551

Cornet: Jabbo Smith / Leonard Davis / Tom Morris Trombone: Charlie Irvis

Reeds (clarinet / sax): Carter / Ben Whittet / Elmer Harrell

Piano: Charlie Johnson Banjo: Bobby Johnson

Bass brass: Cyrus St. Clair Drums: George Stafford Vocal: Monette Moore

Music: Thomas Morris Lyrics: F. Johnson

'Birmingham Black Bottom' Benny Carter w Charlie Johnson's Paradise Ten

One of 2 takes on 25 Feb 1927:

Either matrix 38116-1 toward Victor 20551

Or matrix 38116-2 toward Victor X LVA 3026 in 1954

Cornet: Jabbo Smith / Leonard Davis / Tom Morris Trombone: Charlie Irvis

Reeds (clarinet / sax): Carter / Ben Whittet / Elmer Harrell

Piano: Charlie Johnson Banjo: Bobby Johnson

Bass brass: Cyrus St. Clair Drums: George Stafford Vocal: Monette Moore

Music: Thomas Morris Lyrics: F. Johnson

In 1929 Carter joined Fletcher Henderson's orchestra before becoming one the Little Chocolate Dandies in which he began to distinguish himself as a musician of note. 'The Chocolate Dandies' had been a Broadway musical produced in 1924 with music by Eubie Blake and lyrics by Noble Sissle. Don Redman resurrected the name in 1928 for recordings that and the next year when Carter joined with Fats Waller at piano. Carter led the Dandies in 1930 and 1933, between which session dates King Oliver's orchestra recorded as the Chocolate Dandies in 1931. Oliver is thought to have been absent from that session, his spot at cornet otherwise filled by Ward Pinkett on trumpet. The Chocolate Dandies would come around again in 1940 with Carter at alto sax joined by Roy Eldridge on trumpet and Coleman Hawkins at tenor sax with Count Basie on piano, Bernard Addison at guitar, John Kirby on bass and Sidney Catlett at drums. Hawkins, Kirby and Catlett had been members of the Dandies with Carter in the early thirties as well. Trumpet had been filled by Bobby Stark in 1930 and Max Kaminsky in 1933. Tending piano were Horace Henderson and Fletcher Henderson in 1930 and Teddy Wilson in 1933.

'Cloudy Skies' Benny Carter w the Chocolate Dandies

Recorded 31 Dec 1930 toward Columbia 35679

Trumpet: Bobby Stark Trombone: Jimmy Harrison

Clarinet / alto sax (8 bar solo): Carter Tenor sax: Coleman Hawkins

Piano: Horace Henderson Guitar: Benny Jackson Tuba: John Kirby

Composition: Coleman Hawkins

Among other operations backed by Carter from 1929 to 1931 was McKinney's Cotton Pickers. Lord finds Carter leading his own orchestra for the first time on 23 June 1932 to lay out 'Tell All Your Day Dreams to Me' toward issue on Crown 3321. In 1933 Carter began a collaborative partnership with Spike Hughes who came from Great Britain to New York City with the intention of recording with the best black American musicians. Carter began a three-year tour of Europe in 1935. Upon returning to the States he started playing the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem in 1939 while arranging for some of the biggest names in swing jazz.

'Swing It' Benny Carter & His Orchestra

Recorded 14 March 1933 in NYC toward Columbia CB-628

Trumpet: Shad Collins / Leonard Davis / Bill Dillard

Trombone: George Washington / Wilbur DeParis

Clarinet / alto sax (32 bar solo): Carter

Alto sax: Howard Johnson Tenor sax: Chu Berry

Piano: Nicholas Rodriguez Guitar: Lawrence (Larry) Lucie

Bass: Ernest Hill Drums: Sidney Catlett Vocal: Carter

Composition: Carter

'Takin' My Time' Benny Carter & His Orchestra

Recorded 19 Nov 1940 in NYC toward Bluebird B-10998

Alto sax (32 bar solo): Carter

Composition: Carter

Carter moved to Los Angeles in 1943 where he continued arranging while composing music for films. The year of 1944 was his most rewarding in terms of name record sales. 'Poinciana' reached the #8 spot on Billboard's R&B, a composition by Nat Simon and Buddy Bernier. 'Hurry, Hurry!' did even better at #2 on both the R&B and Country charts, that composed by Richard Larkin in collaboration with Carter. In March the Ink Spots with Ella Fitzgerald took 'Cow-Cow Boogie' to #1 on the R&B chart, that composed by Carter with Don Raye and Gene De Paul. In August Carter took Otis René's 'I'm Lost' to #1 of the R&B. As a jazz master Carter wasn't especially concerned to perform well on Billboard, but such bonuses unsought weren't likely despised either.

'I'm Lost' Benny Carter & His Orchestra backing Dick Gray

Recorded 21 May 1944 in Los Angeles toward Capitol 165 Charts: #1 R&B

Trumpet: John Carroll / Karl George / Edwin "Youngblood" Davis / Milton Fletcher

Trombone: Alton "Slim" Moore / J.J. Johnson / John "Shorty" Haughton / Bart Varsalona

Alto sax (8 bar solo): Carter

Other sax: Porter Kilbert / Willard Brown / Eugene Porter / Bumps Myers

Piano: Gerry Wiggins Guitar: W.J. Edwards

Bass: Charlie Drayton Drums: Max Roach

Composition: Otis René

'Angel Eyes' Benny Carter w Bill Harris (trombone)

Recorded 14 Sep 1954 in NYC

Album: 'New Jazz Sounds' Norgran MGN 1044

Alto sax (solo): Carter

Piano: Oscar Peterson Guitar: Herb Ellis

Bass: Ray Brown Drums: Buddy Rich

Composition: Earl K. Brent / Matt Dennis

'Aspects of Carter' Album by Benny Carter & His Orchestra

Recorded Sep 1958 in Los Angeles toward United Artists UAL4017

Trumpet: Conrad Gozzo / Shorty Sherock / Pete Candoli / Uan Rasey

Trombone: Tommy Pederson / George Roberts / Herbie Harper

Alto sax / trumpet: Carter

Other sax: Buddy Collette / Bill Green / Justin Gordon / Chuck Gentry

Piano: Arnold Ross Guitar: Bobby Gibbons Bass: Joe Comfort

Drums: Shelly Manne Other percussion: Larry Bunker

Tom Lord traces Carter with Norman Granz' JATP (Jazz at the Philharmonic) to as early as 13 September 1952 at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Future performances with the JATP All Stars included Bushnell Memorial Auditorium in Hartford, Connecticut, in May of 1953 and the Nichigeki Theatre in Tokyo in November. Carter traveled with the JAPT to London in 1966 and the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland on 16 July of 1975.

'Blue Lou' Benny Carter (alto sax) w JATP (Jazz at the Philharmonic) Film

Filmed live 26 Nov 1966 at Poplar Town Hall in London

Tenor sax: Coleman Hawkins

Other sax: Buddy Collette / Bill Green / Justin Gordon / Chuck Gentry

Piano: Teddy Wilson Bass: Bob Cranshaw Drums: Louie Bellson

Composition: Edgar Sampson

As implied, Carter toured constantly and widely with various configurations. In 1960 he took a quartet to Australia, performing there again in the seventies and nineties. In 1969 he began lecturing at various universities including Princeton and Harvard. He was recipient of several honorary doctorates from Princeton, Rutgers, Harvard and the New England Conservatory. He became an NEA Jazz Master in 1986.