Honeysuckle Rose
Not too well today – and ridiculously busy – so I thought I’d post a brief pick-me-up by the “King of Swing”. I remember that my Dad – who was a semi-professional Jazz drummer – wasn’t all that keen on Benny Goodman’s clarinet playing, which he regarded as “too clinical”. In fact many jazz writers also refer to Benny Goodman as “unemotional”. I can’t agree – the clarinet on this track is absolutely sensational to me, and I find it a joy to listen to over and over again. And if that wasn’t enough for a three-minute 78 there’s also a fine solo from pioneering electric guitarist Charlie Christian and Cootie Williams on trumpet on this big band version of Fats Waller’s familiar composition Honeysuckle Rose.
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In the Dark 
October 5, 2015 at 3:57 pm
Whoever could claim that Sing Sing Sing was unemotional? Perfectly obviously it positions itself as the music that your parents didn’t want you to listen to in that era.
October 5, 2015 at 5:18 pm
If you’re referring to the classic Carnegie Hall version then I’d say that Benny Goodman was great, but Jess Stacy’s piano solo really made that performance buzz!