Benny Goodman: In Moscow

Benny Goodman in Moscow

Benny Goodman's 1962 visit to the Soviet Union marked the first time a jazz band from the United States had ever toured the country. For the occasion, the legendary "King of Swing" assembled a fantastic big band that played to an appreciative audience that was mostly unfamiliar with the genre. Goodman arranged to record a number of concerts during the tour, and RCA Victor released excerpts of his final week in Moscow on a two record set released in December of the same year. Goodman's performances on the recording are first rate, and the sound quality is superb. The repertoire includes a number of his favorite standards, but there are also some less familiar tracks including Tommy Newsom's "Titter Pipes," which features both Phil Woods and Zoot Sims. This set has been long-awaited by jazz fans everywhere, and Dutton's usual top-rate remastering makes it a must-have.

Price: $24.98