Goodman was regarded by some as a demanding taskmaster, by others an arrogant and eccentric martinet. Many musicians spoke of The Ray, Goodman's trademark glare that he bestowed on a musician who failed to perform to his demanding standards. Anita O'Day and Helen Forrest spoke bitterly of their experiences singing with Goodman. "The twenty or so months I spent with Benny felt like twenty years," said Forrest. "When I look back, they seem like a life sentence." He could also be incredibly self-absorbed; it is reported that when eating an egg onto which a ketchup bottle cap had fallen, Goodman simply ate around it. At the same time, there are reports that he privately funded several college educations and was sometimes very generous, though always secretly. When a friend asked him why one time, he reportedly said, "Well, if they knew about it, everyone would come to me with their hand out."
Some suggest that Elvis Presley had the same success with rock and roll that Goodman achieved with jazz and swing. Without Goodman there would not have been a swing era. It is true that many of Goodman's arrangements had been played for years before by Fletcher Henderson's orchestra. While Goodman publicly acknowledged his debt to Henderson, many young white swing fans had never heard Henderson's band. While most consider Goodman a jazz innovator, others maintain his main strength was his perfectionism and drive. Goodman was a non - pariel virtuoso clarinetist and -along with only Artie Shaw, amongst the most technically proficient jazz clarinetists of all time.
Goodman is also responsible for a significant step in racial integration in America. In the early 1930s, black and white jazz musicians could not play together in most clubs or concerts. In the Southern states, racial segregation was enforced by the Jim Crow laws. Benny Goodman broke with tradition by hiring Teddy Wilson to play with him ] in the Autumn of 1936. He then added Lionel Hampton on vibes in December, 1936, and in the early Summer of 1939 he augmented the famous "quartette" with pioneering jazz guitarist Charlie Christian to his band and small ensembles, who played with him until his untimely death from tuberculosis less than three years later. To give an understanding of American history at this time, Goodman's integration of popular music happened ten years before Jackie Robinson entered Major League Baseball. "[Goodman's] popularity was such that he could remain financially viable without touring the South, where he would have been subject to arrest for violating Jim Crow laws." By the mid- Summer of 1941, Benny had hired the incomparably rhythmic and show-man drummer, legendary "Big Sid" Catlett, the (later) famous John Simmons on bass, and still possessed the incomparable Charlie Christian on electric guitar -plus Cootie Williams was in the middle of his one-year contract... This amounted to virtually one-quarter of the orchestra of black heritage, but of course -following Jimmy Munday and Fletcher Henderson (who also joined the band as pianist for 6 months in July, 1939) it was really an orchestrated white extension of black big band jazz -only, curiously -better.
All I Need is You 2
Benny Goodman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hear a million voices, but only your voice comes through.
I wait for your footsteps, I've waited before,
I know if it's you if you knock at my door,
I know you're around by the sound of my pounding heart!
I see a million faces, but what do I really see?
A million little traces keep bringing you back to me;
What can I do if you're always there?
I see a million people, but all I can see is you!
The lyrics of "All I Need Is You" by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra convey a sense of fixation on a specific person, and the way their presence dominates the singer's perception of the world. The first verse describes a situation in which the singer is surrounded by a crowd of people and yet only able to focus on the individual they desire. They can hear nothing but the sound of this person's voice and can distinguish their presence by the sound of their footsteps. The second verse suggests that the singer cannot escape their feelings for this person, even when they try to forget or move on. They are reminded of this person through a "million little traces" that keep bringing them back.
This song represents the obsession of an individual with someone they cannot resist, no matter where they are or what they do. The singer is completely fascinated and drawn to the appearance and presence of an individual in their life. Moreover, the song seems to present this fixation as something beyond the singer's control, suggesting that they are helplessly in love with this person.
Line by Line Meaning
I see a million people, but all I can see is you.
Despite being surrounded by many people, the singer's focus is solely on the person they love.
I hear a million voices, but only your voice comes through.
The singer is able to distinguish their loved one's voice among many, showing how important and ingrained it is in their life.
I wait for your footsteps, I've waited before,
The singer is eagerly anticipating the arrival of their loved one, which is something they've experienced many times before.
I know if it's you if you knock at my door,
The singer is able to recognize their loved one's knock, further highlighting how significant this person is in their life.
I know you're around by the sound of my pounding heart!
The singer's heartbeat increases when their loved one is near, a physical manifestation of their emotions.
I see a million faces, but what do I really see?
The singer questions the true meaning behind the many people they encounter, suggesting that only their loved one holds real significance.
A million little traces keep bringing you back to me;
The singer is constantly reminded of their loved one through many small details, indicating the depth of their connection.
And try as I may to forget to care,
Despite the singer's attempts to move on, they are unable to shake their feelings for their loved one.
What can I do if you're always there?
The presence of the singer's loved one in their thoughts and life is unshakeable, leaving them feeling helpless.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: VNAM CARISLE, ROBERT SOUR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
tuxguys
A beautifully literal performance of Sondheim's music as a Jazz Waltz....
...played by this iconic roster of Jazz Talent...
Sublime.
A&G
one of my all time favorites. so cool to see this live. thanks for posting!
Edward Desenne
He’s playing a love song to his wife, romantic playing !
Luke Vaughan
Eyne kleyne nachtmusik. Wonderful !
Joseph Magdalena
The title is incorrect. It's called - You Must Meet My Wife