Benny Goodman: And the Angels Sing

Ziggy Elman ranks high on the list of shamefully overlooked jazz trumpeters. Great section players aren't always the best soloists, but Elman was both. His self-composed feature with Benny Goodman's big band is actually back-to-back pieces. First, Martha Tilton sings what seems like a fairly innocuous 1930s pop song. Then, out of the blue, the band breaks into a riotous klezmer dance (upon which, it turns out, Elman's melody is based). The intended effect is as jarring as a staid goyish wedding reception suddenly overrun by high-spirited Jewish party crashers. This is so unabashedly good-humored, political correct- ness does not apply.