UNDERCURRENT BLUES - Benny Goodman Live 1949

Ah, the "bop" side of Benny.

Unfortunately, I only have one of his cuts from around this period - a small group recording of "Stealin' Apples" featuring, among others, Fats Navarro shortly before his death in 1949 - part of a 3 disc 78rpm set based on the music from the movie "A Song Is Born", for, what the album says, The Damon Runyon Foundation.

I really like Benny's bop recordings! I also have that Giants of Jazz 78rpm set, except there were just 2 of the original records left and the "Stealin' Apples" disc was the only one still playable, but I think it's mighty fine!

Many (maybe all??) of Benny's "bop" tunes are on a Capitol-Jazz CD, "Undercurrent Blues" from 1995... Thanks for sharing this 16" version!!

I've been trying to reconstruct Doug Mettome's career for quite some time. I didn't know this recording existed--it sounds more like a version I've heard, after Goodman canned Wardell Gray. In any event, I don't think too many people are aware of its existence.