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.
Quartet: I Got Rhythm
Benny Goodman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't need what money can buy
Birds in the trees sing their dayful of songs
Why shouldn't we sing along?
I'm chipper all the day
Happy with my life
How do I get that way?
Look at what I've got:
I got rhythm, I got music, I got my man
Who could ask for anything more?
I've got daisies in green pastures
I've got my man
Who could ask for anything more?
Old man trouble I don't mind him
You won't find him 'round my door
I've got starlight
I've got sweet dreams
I've got my man
Who could ask for anything more?
Old man trouble, I don't mind him
You won't find him 'round my door
I've got starlight
I've got sweet dreams
I've got my man
Who could ask for anything more?
Oh, I've got rhythm
I've got music
I've got daisies in green pastures
I've got starlight
I've got sweet dreams
I've got my man
Who could ask for anything more?
I've got rhythm, I've got rhythm
Benny Goodman's song "Quartet: I Got Rhythm" is a joyous ode to the simple pleasures of life. The lyrics describe how the singer is content with what they have and that they do not need money or material possessions to be happy. The song begins by noting that even though there are sometimes troublesome days, the world can be a bright and happy place, filled with birds singing and nature's beauty. The singer suggests that the listener should join in and sing along to the world's song.
The song's chorus repeats the iconic line "I've got rhythm, I've got music, I've got my man, who could ask for anything more?", a testament to the singer's satisfaction with their life. The verses continue to emphasize the abundance of good things in the singer's life, such as daisies in green pastures, starlight, and sweet dreams. The song concludes with another repetition of the chorus and the triumphant declaration that the singer has everything they need in life.
The song's message is one of positivity, gratitude, and contentment. Instead of being preoccupied with the things they don't have, the singer revels in the simple pleasures and delights that life has to offer. The song is a reminder that sometimes it's the little things that can bring the most joy and that true happiness comes from within, not from external sources.
Line by Line Meaning
Days can be sunny with never a sigh
Life can be happy and carefree
Don't need what money can buy
Money isn't everything for happiness
Birds in the trees sing their dayful of songs
Nature is full of joyous sounds
Why shouldn't we sing along?
Why not join in with the happiness around us?
I'm chipper all the day
I'm in good spirits
Happy with my life
Content with what I have
How do I get that way?
What makes me this way?
Look at what I've got:
Focus on what I have
I've got rhythm, I've got music, I've got my man
I have the beat and melodies of life as well as my partner
Who could ask for anything more?
What else could one want?
I've got daisies in green pastures
I have peaceful nature around me
Old man trouble I don't mind him
I'm not worried about problems
You won't find him 'round my door
My life doesn't involve trouble
I've got starlight
I have beauty in the night sky
I've got sweet dreams
I have pleasant thoughts and aspirations
Oh, I've got rhythm
My life has a beat
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Marathonracer
@@pilgriminyourbody Jess Stacy was a brilliantly swinging and incredibly inventive and nuanced jazz pianist who, for my money was even better than Teddy Wilson and actually beat out Teddy Wilson on several Downbeat Magazine polls. And Jess Stacey did play for many years with Bob Crosby's Orchestra and his smaller Bobcats and played many fantastic solos, despite the fact that the 1938 solo was his best. They're on YouTube and the Bobcats had amazing all star musicians, like the legendary Ray Bauduc on drums, whom even Gene Krupa said was the best Dixieland drummer of all time. They had Eddie Miller: tenor sax Matty Matlock: clarinet, Billy Butterfield: trumpet, Warren Smith: trombone Nappy Lamare: guitar Jess Stacy: piano, Ray Bauduc: drums, Bob Haggart: bass.
You seem to trivialize that absolutely historic, unbelievably creative solo in Sing Sing Sing in 1938, as if it's a one of a kind for Jess. EVERY jazz solo, by definition, is one of a kind. The fact that Jess Stacy played the best solo of his life that night, can possibly be said about Gene, Benny, Hamp and Harry James. Although it was the best solo of his entire career, he played many truly great solos with the Bobcats and other bands. Here's a brief summary of Jessy Stacy's career at its height, although there were much later revivals of his great playing. Thought you might find it interesting.
Stacy's big break came in 1935 when Benny Goodman asked Stacy to join his band. Stacy left Floyd Towne, moved to New York, and spent 1935-39 with the Benny Goodman Orchestra. He reached a personal peak when he performed with Goodman band at its famous 1938 Carnegie Hall jazz concert on 16 January 1938.
The Carnegie Hall performance was elevated in part by Stacy's unplanned piano solo during "Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing)", around which a great modern legacy has grown. Following a Goodman/Krupa duet, Stacy received a nod from Goodman to take a solo. "At the Carnegie Hall concert, after the usual theatrics, Jess Stacy was allowed to solo and, given the venue, what followed was appropriate ... Used to just playing rhythm on the tune, he was unprepared for a turn in the spotlight, but what came out of his fingers was a graceful, impressionistic marvel with classical flourishes, yet still managed to swing. It was the best thing he ever did, and it's ironic that such a layered, nuanced performance came at the end of such a chaotic, bombastic tune", wrote David Rickert."
Btw, Jess Stacy said in an interview that his Carnegie Hall solo took him by surprise because Goodman never told him he'd be taking one, but then suddenly pointed to him. Jess said that he was glad that he didn't know about it in advance because: " I would have been so nervous I probably would have screwed it up !". LOL. That's why, after just three terrific blues bars, you hear Lionel Hampton kind of laugh and call out: " Yeeaah, Jess!" and the audience cracks up.
A 1939 review of 'Jess Stacy' (Commodore 1503) stated:
"These two five-minute blues are probably the finest solos ever recorded by Jess Stacy and the best coupling ever issued by Milt Gabler on his Commodore label. When this most sensitive, intelligent and polished of piano players goes to work in the simple, traditional blues form, the result is likely to be more individual than authentic; and that was the case here. On the slow blues, "EcStacy", and a faster one named "The Sell Out", Stacy has lavished all his musical sincerity, his harmonic invention and delicate melodic ideas, all performed with uniquely fine touch and really incisive phrasing. "EcStacy" is quiet, and the chords ring out like chimes; in "The Sell Out", Stacy's foot acts as bass drum and the swing is very easy and sure. Instead of the sterility which afflicts so many of the "advanced" jazz players, there is the sincere, personal emotion, and integrity, of a uniquely talented musician. Much intellect went into this music, and in places you can almost hear Jess' rapid thinking".
After leaving the Goodman Orchestra, Stacy joined the Bob Crosby Orchestra and his famous small jazz group the Bob Crosby Bobcats. During his period with the Bob-Cats Stacy received yet wider acclaim. He won the national Down Beat piano polls in 1940, 1941, 1942, and 1943. Teddy Wilson did not win. In addition to the Goodman and Bob Crosby orchestras Stacy played with Bix Beiderbecke, Eddie Condon, Bud Freeman, George Gershwin, Lionel Hampton, Billie Holiday, Gene Krupa, Jack Teagarden and, later, Horace Heidt. Just to put Jess Stacy in proper perspective. Check out the "Bobcats " on YouTube. Some are live videos and they show Jess Stacy's wide swinging Dixieland range. Cheers.
@billjahnke1612
Benny is the best, but who doesn't love Lionel?
@user-xt3cd6dj3k
Una melodía muy hermosa que me hace soñar y la maestría que tiene cada integrante para tomar el instrumento 🎷🎸 gracias por compartir esta música 🎵🎼
@glynsmith4590
There has never been anyone since who could compare with those BG groups!!!!
@bobdillaber1195
A grown man gets to play at play all day, every day! We get to watch AND HEAR the fun!
@marciapierce9618
Please don't let this disappear! This is part of our National Treasure
@JaneFrieman
Benny Goodman makes the clarinet SPEAK! Goodman puts his soul into playing.
@tommyromanowski
God, what I wouldn’t give to see this live!!!! Gene and Lionel just have sooo much energy! I don’t know how the audience wasn’t jumping out of their seats
@LeDoctoer
I saw these guys in 1973 at Saratoga.
It was Gene's final performance. Benny's technique was amazing. Absolutely flawless.
@rongrattini178
I don’t think there has ever been a group then or now that got into “the zone” more than these great all stars. What a joy
@robertboney4493
The greatest of all time, Goodman, Hampton and Krupa!