Harlem Renaissance is a live album celebrating saxophonist/composer Benny Carter's 85th birthday recorded in 1992 and released by the MusicMasters label.Encilopedia del Jazz: Benny Carter, accessed June 10, 2019Benny Carter: Selected Discography - Bibliography , accessed June 10, 2019.
Reception
"Harlem Renaissance Suite" won the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition in 1992.Grammy Awards: Benny Carter, accessed June 10, 2019 AllMusic reviewer Scott Yanow stated "Benny Carter is a true marvel. At the time of this recording (a double CD), the classic altoist was already age 84, yet showed no signs of slowing down either his playing or his writing schedule. For his specially assembled big band and The Rutgers University Orchestra (which includes a full string section), Carter wrote entirely new arrangements that demonstrate that his talents have not diminished with age. ... In addition, Carter's alto is often the solo star although he does not hog the spotlight; it just naturally drifts back to him".
Track listing All compositions by Benny Carter except where noted
Disc One: "Vine Street Rumble" – 11:21 "Sao Paolo" – 5:05 "I Can't Get Started" (Vernon Duke, Ira Gershwin) – 5:42 "Stockholm Sweetnin'" (Quincy Jones) – 5:34 "Evening Star" – 8:31 "How High The Moon" (Morgan Lewis, Nancy Hamilton) – 11:02 Disc Two: "Tales of the Rising Sun Suite: August Moon" – 4:26 "Tales of the Rising Sun Suite: Teatime" – 3:51 "Tales of the Rising Sun Suite: Song of Long Ago" – 5:06 "Tales of the Rising Sun Suite: Samurai Song" – 3:07 "Tales of the Rising Sun Suite: Chow Chow" – 9:19 "Harlem Renaissance Suite: Lament for Langston" – 5:05 "Harlem Renaissance Suite: Sugar Hill Slow Drag" – 5:04 "Harlem Renaissance Suite: Happy Feet" – 6:54 "Harlem Renaissance Suite: Sunday Morning" – 4:15 "Harlem Renaissance Suite: Happy Feet-Reprise" – 5:11
Personnel Benny Carter – alto saxophone, conductor, arranger John Eckert, Michael Mossman, Richard Grant, Virgil Jones – trumpet Benny Powell, Curtis Hasselbring, Dennis Wilson, Eddie Bert – trombone Ralph Bowen – alto saxophone, flute Frank Wess, Loren Schoenberg – saxophone Jeff Rupert – tenor saxophone Danny Bank – baritone saxophone, flute Chris Neville – piano Remo Palmier – guitar Lisle Atkinson – bass Kenny Washington – drums N. Scott Robinson – vibraphone, bells, gong, shaker The Rutgers University Orchestra (tracks 2-1 to 2-10): Richard Rosolino, Susan Kynkor – horns Katie Evans – flute John Atteberry – bassoon Gloria Agostini – harp N. Scott Robinson – percussion (vibraphone, bells, gong, shaker) Anna Lim, Grace Lee, Michael Locati, Orlando Wells, Rebecca Engstrom, Ruo Tao Mao, Suzanne Gilman, Amy Hegarty, Brigit Hammerling, Michael Jamanis, Norma Stites, Yi-Wen Jiang – violin Clifford Young, Harold Levin, Jacqueline Young, Mu Ning – viola Alex Kramer, Bridget MacRae, Tu Qiang, Wendy Tummon – cello Jack Hayes – orchestrator
References