Benny Carter – Jazz Giant (LP, Craft)

Benny Carter had already been a major jazz musician for almost 30 years when he recorded this particularly powerful septet session called “Jazz Giant” for Contemporary. With notable contributions from tenor saxist Ben Webster, trombonist Frank Rosolino and guitarist Barney Kessel, Carter (who also plays a bit of trumpet on “How Can You Lose”) is on excellent form on a set of five standards and two of his originals. This timeless music is beyond the simple categories of “swing” or “bop” and should simply be called “classical”. Part of the Contemporary Records 70th Anniversary Series, this album was recorded by legendary engineer Roy DuNann.