Mystery voice/instrument in Benny Goodman at Carnegie Hall 1938

October 5, 2021 11:34 AM

On Benny Goodman's famous Carnegie Hall 1938 recording, there is occasionally a voice or sound that sounds like someone going "yehhehehhh," most often during vibraphone segments. Who is this person/goat/recording artifact?

The voice (?) can be heard throughout the concert here and there, but an easy place to hear it is after the 2:40 mark on "Avalon" during the xylophone solo. It's also prominent on "I Got Rhythm."

Is it a zealous player, someone in the front row, etc, is this voice known, famous, perhaps infamous? (I can picture Benny glaring at them.) Ever since I first heard "Sing Sing Sing" from this concert I have noticed and wondered about this.

posted by BlackLeotardFront to Media & Arts (7 answers total)

Lionel Hampton! For comparison, listen to one of the greatest musical performances ever recorded, the Lionel Hampton All-Stars playing Stardust live at the Civic Auditorium. I am shivering right to death listening again this very minute.

Bonus vocalizations by Slam Stewart on bass, another genius of jazz.
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 12:43 PM on October 5, 2021 [4 favorites]

Oscar Peterson would vocalize like that when he played piano. John Medeski often does too.
posted by stinkfoot at 1:13 PM on October 5, 2021 [1 favorite]

BlackLeotardFront, that I've Got Rhythm tears it to SHREDS
AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 1:33 PM on October 5, 2021 [2 favorites]

Oscar Peterson would vocalize like that when he played piano. John Medeski often does too.

So did Glenn Gould.
posted by praemunire at 2:48 PM on October 5, 2021 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Great! I thought it might be Hampton, since he was the vibraphone at Carnegie Hall, but thought I'd ask. How glad I am to put that nagging thought to bed. I've heard other vocalizing musicians too of course and don't mind, it just always struck me. Thanks for the extra context, all.
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 3:06 PM on October 5, 2021

I’d also assumed it was Lionel Hampton based on when I heard it in other Benny Goodman recordings; if you want another example, it also happens during How High The Moon.
posted by tchemgrrl at 4:50 PM on October 5, 2021

Here’s a video of him doing it!
posted by tchemgrrl at 4:56 PM on October 5, 2021 [5 favorites]