Benny Rides Again

by Gary Burton / Eddie Daniels

Rare & Hard-To-Find Audio CDs (series)

Composers: Chick Webb; Josef Bonime; Edgar Sampson; Eubie Blake; Fannie Baldridge; Gordon Jenkins; Gregory Stone; Henry Creamer; Irving Mills; Jimmy Mundy; Al Jolson; Louis Prima; Red Norvo; Vincent Rose; Will Hudson; Benny Goodman; Eddie DeLange; Turner Layton; Bix Beiderbecke; Buddy DeSylva; Charlie Christian.

Personnel: Eddie Daniels (clarinet); Mulgrew Miller (piano); Gary Burton (vibraphone, xylophone); Peter Erskine (drums, percussion).

Liner Note Authors: Michael Bloom ; Leonard Feather.

Recording information: Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA (01/14/1992-01/15/1992).

Photographer: Jeff Sedlik.

During 1991-92, clarinetist Eddie Daniels and vibraphonist Gary Burton teamed up on a tour, performing a tribute to Benny Goodman and Lionel Hampton. Never mind that they sound nothing at all like their predecessors. On the CD that resulted from the collaboration, the duo use pianist Mulgrew Miller (who sounds much more like McCoy Tyner than Teddy Wilson), bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Peter Erskine for 11 songs associated with the King of Swing plus Bix Beiderbecke's "In a Mist." Actually the most memorable selection is "Knockin' on Wood," which has nothing to do with Goodman or Hampton (it was a feature for Red Norvo) and features Burton romping on a xylophone. Other highlights include a surprisingly brief "Sing, Sing, Sing," "Airmail Special," "Slipped Disc" and "Avalon." ~ Scott Yanow