Wonderland (Benny Carter album)

Wonderland
Studio album by The Benny Carter Group
Released	1986
Recorded	November 1976
Studio	RCA Studios, New York City, NY
Genre	Jazz
Length	38:44
Label	Pablo 2310-922
Producer	Norman Granz
Benny Carter chronology
Carter, Gillespie Inc. (1976) Wonderland (1986) 'Live and Well in Japan! (1977)

Wonderland is an album by saxophonist/composer Benny Carter recorded in 1976 but not released by the Pablo label until 1986. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[4]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz	[5]

AllMusic reviewer Scott Yanow stated "Although it often has the feeling of a jam session, the fact that, in addition to two standards, there are five obscure Carter compositions makes one realize that more planning than usual went into this date, and it shows". ^[4] In JazzTimes Stanley Dance wrote "Saxophonist Benny Green’s admiring notes scarcely conceal regret at the changes time wrought on Benny Carter’s fluent style-“a tendency to tongue more notes instead of playing extended legato passages, and a penchant for crotchet-triplets which had a way of breaking up the old suave flow.” What, in other words, was a gain for one part of the audience was a grievous loss for another. Here, nevertheless, are rewards for both. Besides “Misty” and “Three Little Words,” there are five of Carter’s own numbers. He is joined by Sweets Edison and Lockjaw Davis on three of these to good effect". ^[6]

Track listing

All compositions by Benny Carter except where noted

1. "Stroll" – 7:18
2. "Johnny" – 4:38
3. "Alta Vista" – 5:40
4. "Misty" (Erroll Garner, Johnny Burke) – 5:38
5. "Wonderland" – 6:40
6. "Three Little Words" (Harry Ruby, Bert Kalmar) – 5:14
7. "Editation" – 3:36

Personnel

• Benny Carter – alto saxophone
• Harry "Sweets" Edison – trumpet
• Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis – tenor saxophone
• Ray Bryant – piano
• Milt Hinton – bass
• Grady Tate – drums

References

1. Edwards, D. & Callahan, M. Both Sides Now: Discography of the Pablo Label, accessed May, 21, 2019
2. Jazzdisco: Pablo Records Discography: 1973-1976, accessed May, 21, 2019
3. Encilopedia del Jazz: Benny Carter, accessed June 7, 2019
4. Yanow, Scott. Benny Carter: Wonderland – Review at AllMusic . Retrieved May, 21, 2019.
5. Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 230. ISBN   978-0-141-03401-0.
6. Dance, S. JazzTimes Review, accessed May, 21, 2019