Interracial Jazz Recording (#27) Benny Goodman and Teddy Wilson

The best known example of an early integrated group in jazz was that of Benny Goodman, with Teddy Wilson and then Lionel Hampton. It's a complicated story and it wouldn't have happened without John Hammond and Helen Oakley-one of the pioneer woman producers in jazz. The first step was a 1935 concert in Chicago at the Congress Hotel. As these 1934 recordings show, Goodman and Wilson were recording together prior to that event. 

               

                                                 

"As Long as I Live" is a Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler tune, written for a Cotton Club review and introduced by Avon Long and Lena Horne. It features an intro and solo by Wilson and vocals and solos by Jack Teagarden. The band that Goodman eventually hit it big with was much larger than this 9-man unit.

Benny Goodman and His Orchestra: Benny Goodman, cl, dir: Charlie Teagarden, George Thow, t / Jack Teagarden, tb, v / Hank Ross, ts / Teddy Wilson, p / Benny Martel, g / Artie Bernstein or Harry Goodman, sb / Ray McKinley, d. New York, May 14, 1934.

• I Ain’t Lazy - I’m Just Dreamin’– vJT- Par R-2695, Od A-272264;
• As Long As I Live– vJT- Col 2923-D, Par R-2695, Od A-272264;
• Moon Glow- Col 2927-D, 35839, CB-786, FB-2826;
• Breakfast Ball- Col 2927-D, DB / MC-5005, CQ-3416, DW-4361

All entries are from my book “As Long as They Can Blow. Interracial Jazz Recording and Other Jive Before 1935.”