The All-Star Goodmen Orchestra - Biography

Pete Long's All-Star Line Up:

• Pete Long - clarinet
• Joan Viskant - vocals
• Richard Pite - drums

(The Goodmen Orchestra)

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Pete Long & his All-Star line up recreate Benny Goodmen's Carnegie Hall Concert 1938 (the most famous jazz / big band concert of all time)

Most people firmly believe that Pete Long's all-star Goodmen Orchestra has no competitor when it recreates Benny Goodman's classic Canargie Hall.

Regarded as the finest jazz spectacle ever, the Benny Goodman Carnegie Hall concert of 1938 is revered by big band fans and others worldwide, and recordings of that historic event continue to sell today on vinyl and CD. It’s thanks to Benny that jazz was elevated from the dance halls, clubs and dives to the concert platform.

Ex Jools Holland arranger and star soloist Pete Long doesn’t have Gene Krupa, Harry James, Lionel Hampton and Teddy Wilson in the All-Star Goodmen Orchestra, but he has the cream of London’s big band players guaranteeing all the passion and frenzy of the original concert. Few musicians would attempt a recreation of Goodman’s work, but Pete Long is one of the finest jazz clarinettists in the world and relishes the challenge.

All the repertoire and scores from the Carnegie Hall concert will be featured, including Don’t Be That Way; Body & Soul; One O’Clock Jump; China Boy; Sing, Sing, Sing Big John Special and those other fabulous Fletcher Henderson, Mel Powell and Eddie Sauter arrangements. An added bonus will be famed American singer Joan Viskant, described by Ray Charles as reminding him of Doris Day. She joins the party to replace Martha Tilton in the original concert.

Launched in October 2007 the Benny Goodman recreation concerts have enjoyed fine success, with capacity audiences at many venues.

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