Urbane Jazz Explained

Urbane Jazz
Type:	Studio
Artist:	Roy Eldridge and Benny Carter
Cover:	Urbane Jazz.jpg
Released:	1955
Recorded:	March 21 & 23, 1955
Venue:	Radio Recorders, Hollywood
Genre:	Jazz
Length:	50:48
Label:	Verve MGV 8202
Producer:	Norman Granz
Chronology:	Roy Eldridge
Prev Title:	Roy and Diz
Prev Year:	1954
Next Title:	Swing Goes Dixie
Next Year:	1956

Urbane Jazz is an album by American jazz trumpeter Roy Eldridge and saxophonist Benny Carter recorded in 1955 and released on the Verve label.^[1] ^[2] ^[3]

Reception

Allmusic awarded the album 4½ stars, stating: "This release features the swing-inflected trumpet of Roy Eldridge combined with the always cosmopolitan-sounding alto sax of the venerable Benny Carter. This combination was quite fortuitous because Eldridge took his main inspiration not from Louis Armstrong, but from saxophonists Carter and Coleman Hawkins, transposing that rapid arpeggio style and rich tone to his horn. This gave the trumpet player a keen awareness of harmony and unparalleled dexterity, especially in his solos."

Track listing

All compositions by Roy Eldridge except as indicated

"I Still Love Him So" (Benny Carter) - 5:47
"The Moon Is Low" (Arthur Freed, Nacio Herb Brown) – 6:07
"I Missed My Hat" - 5:19
"Ballad Medley: I Remember You/Chelsea Bridge/I've Got the World on a String" (Victor Schertzinger, Johnny Mercer/Billy Strayhorn/Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler) - 6:20
"Polite Blues" - 8:36
"Close Your Eyes" (Bernice Petkere) - 2:40
"Where's Art" - 4:07
"I Don't Know" - 4:37
"Striding" - 4:37
"Wailing" - 3:14

Personnel

Roy Eldridge – trumpet, piano
Benny Carter – alto saxophone
Bruce McDonald – piano
John Simmons – double bass
Alvin Stoller – drums

Notes and References

Edwards, D. & Callahan, M. Verve Label Discography, accessed November 24, 2015.
http://www.jazzdisco.org/roy-eldridge/catalog/#verve-mgv-8202 Roy Eldridge Catalog
https://enciclopediadeljazz.wordpress.com/2015/06/04/benny-carter/ Encilopedia del Jazz: Benny Carter