Jazz Library

The King of Swing, and one of the finest of all jazz clarinetists, Benny Goodman recorded prolifically, and was as dazzlingly talented in a big band setting as in a small group. He encouraged multi-racial bands, with his trio, quartet and sextet, and helped bring guitarist Charlie Christian to a wider audience. Alyn Shipton is joined by John Dankworth, who shares some of his keen insights into Goodman's style, his selection of key recordings and his personal reminiscences of Benny, with whom he played for the first time in 1949.