Benny Goodman, Jazz solos and Malcolm Arnold Clarinet Concerto -- 1980 – Echternach Luxembourg

Finding an original pianist who can front a jazz trio and not sound like myriad others is a daunting task. How many jazz pianists have a fresh voice? Well, Reggie Thomas does. His soulful, hard-swinging brand of piano immediately grabs the listener, imparting joy and a positive energy. Ballads? Yes, he also plays those flawlessly and does so in in this outing. Joining Mr. Thomas is a veteran rhythm section with Dennis Carrol on bass and George Fludas on drums. Dennis and George both support and complement Reggie’s piano artistry with excursions of their own. The result is a masterful trio creating exquisite music. The performance was captured with the finest custom (tube) and vintage microphones including a pair of legendary cardiod AKG 414 EB’s on piano, two AKG ULS’s on drums and a single AKG ULS on bass, directly to a highly modified Studer/Revox 8-track master recorder. The result is an audio and musical gem.

Where technology meets art

Benny Goodman, Jazz solos and Malcolm Arnold Clarinet Concerto -- 1980 – Echternach Luxembourg

Benny Goodman needs no introduction nor any accolades. His unrivaled position in American music is unquestioned. I was in Luxembourg in 1980 recording the classical music festival that took place there every year. Fortuitously, Mr. Goodman heard one of my recordings of another performer at the festival and requested I record his jazz solos and Malcolm Arnold’s Clarinet Concerto. The result is this tape, capturing the huge ambient church sound, and a live audience (well over 1000 strong), complete with coughs, shuffling sounds, camera clicks, etc. Mr. Goodman was thrilled with the sound on the tape and said it captured the live event perfectly. I used two B&K omni-directional mics about 8 feet in front and above the orchestra. A recording of historical significance.