First off, the sonics of this recording are beautiful! You can hear the true dynamics and nuances of the performances with wonderful clarity. The rhythm section of Catlett-Simmons-Powell is just inctedible! Big Sid plays so creatively and swinging; so much warmth and tonal beauty from his drums and cymbals. I love how he mixes it up behind the trumpet solo on each take, doing different things with the hi-hat and snare each time. Sid put the funk in there before "funk" was a style! Great arrangement too. Is that Barney Bigard's "Frolic Sam" that they play on the out chorus? Or maybe that was Cootie's tune since he was in the band? Thank you again and again Mr. Schoenberg for sharing these trrasures! And thanks for always wanting to "Give the Drummers Some"!
Appreciative of this post, displaying Sid Catlett's genius. Thie band sounds great propelled by his drive, swing, dynamics and musicality in shaping the arrangements.
It's a shame Goodman didn't revisit more of these charts from the "Columbia" band (1939-42) in the 1950s. It would have been nice to have Hi-Fi recordings of some of these great charts like Pound Ridge. But, the sound quality on these takes is sensational. I can't remember the name of the reviewer, but the essence of the review was that the Goodman band of 1941 was in many ways the best stage band Goodman ever had. Listening to this and other tracks from the Mosaic collection of Columbia recordings, as well as the airchecks available, it's easy to agree with that assessment. It's a further shame that Sid Catlett and John Simmons didn't last longer with Goodman. One can only wonder what great music might have been produced if Catlett and Simmons had had more time in the band. Having said all that, I liked Ralph Collier as a drummer with Goodman and thought he did a fine job.
Benny was as small a human being as he was a huge musician. Sid was the "GOAT"--musically and technically--and he was also a consummate showman and Benny felt "up-staged". Benny was very thin-skinned and hadn't much humor and just couldn't abide Sid's presence.
First off, the sonics of this recording are beautiful! You can hear the true dynamics and nuances of the performances with wonderful clarity.
The rhythm section of Catlett-Simmons-Powell is just inctedible! Big Sid plays so creatively and swinging; so much warmth and tonal beauty from his drums and cymbals. I love how he mixes it up behind the trumpet solo on each take, doing different things with the hi-hat and snare each time. Sid put the funk in there before "funk" was a style!
Great arrangement too. Is that Barney Bigard's "Frolic Sam" that they play on the out chorus? Or maybe that was Cootie's tune since he was in the band?
Thank you again and again Mr. Schoenberg for sharing these trrasures! And thanks for always wanting to "Give the Drummers Some"!
Appreciative of this post, displaying Sid Catlett's genius. Thie band sounds great propelled by his drive, swing, dynamics and musicality in shaping the arrangements.
I'm digging these Catlett posts Loren. Those rim shots really propel the Goodman organization.
Majestic work from Big Sid; the alternates are as marvelous as the master.
Even Sid’s handwriting was swingin.’
So nice to hear Catlett swinging!
This is great! Thanks, Loren!
It's a shame Goodman didn't revisit more of these charts from the "Columbia" band (1939-42) in the 1950s. It would have been nice to have Hi-Fi recordings of some of these great charts like Pound Ridge. But, the sound quality on these takes is sensational. I can't remember the name of the reviewer, but the essence of the review was that the Goodman band of 1941 was in many ways the best stage band Goodman ever had. Listening to this and other tracks from the Mosaic collection of Columbia recordings, as well as the airchecks available, it's easy to agree with that assessment. It's a further shame that Sid Catlett and John Simmons didn't last longer with Goodman. One can only wonder what great music might have been produced if Catlett and Simmons had had more time in the band. Having said all that, I liked Ralph Collier as a drummer with Goodman and thought he did a fine job.
Damn! I love this so much.
WAY 2 GO SID!!!
Wow!
Did Big Sid walk out or did Benny fire him?
Fired after roughly three months
Benny was as small a human being as he was a huge musician. Sid was the "GOAT"--musically and technically--and he was also a consummate showman and Benny felt "up-staged". Benny was very thin-skinned and hadn't much humor and just couldn't abide Sid's presence.