Songbook Volume II

Songbook Volume II is an album by American saxophonist and composer Benny Carter, released in 1997 by MusicMasters Records.

Songbook Volume II
Studio album by Benny Carter
Released	1997
Recorded	June 26 – July 28, 1995
Studio	Group IV Studios, Los Angeles Master Sound Astoria, New York City
Genre	Jazz
Length	75:22
Label	MusicMasters
Producer	Danny Kapilian Ed Berger
Benny Carter chronology
New York Nights (1997) Songbook Volume II (1997)

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic

AllMusic reviewer Ken Dryden stated, "The 1997 release of this CD helped Benny Carter celebrate his 90th birthday, featuring 14 of his original ballads by a dozen guests, in addition to a warm tribute to his wife of many years, 'When Hilma Smiles,' sung by Carter himself in a friendly, unpretentious manner. His smooth alto sax hasn't lost anything over the decades, and the top-notch cornet of Warren Vaché is also a nice touch".

Track listing

All compositions by Benny Carter, except where noted.

1. "My Mind Is Still On You" (Benny Carter, John Moen, Leonard Feather) – 3:22
2. "Echo of My Dream" – 5:07
3. "Rock Me to Sleep" (Carter, Paul Vandervoort II) – 5:58
4. "Stop Me Before I Fall in Love Again" – 4:01
5. "He Doesn't Need Me Now" (Carter, Vandervoort) – 8:31
6. "Doozy" – 6:02
7. "Nevermore" – 5:07
8. "Malibu" – 7:04
9. "Blue Moonlight" – 5:50
10. "Evening Star" – 5:27
11. "Slow Carousel" – 4:44
12. "Whisper to One" (Carter, Al Stillman) – 4:02
13. "I'm the Caring Kind" (Carter, Irving Gordon) – 5:52
14. "When Hilma Smiles" – 4:15

• Recorded at Group IV Studios, Hollywood, CA on July 26, 27, and 28, 1995 (tracks 1–3 & 8–10) and at Master Sound Astoria, Astoria, NY, on June 26, 27, & 28, 1995 (tracks 4–7 & 11–14)

Personnel

• Benny Carter – alto saxophone, vocals
• Warren Vaché – cornet (tracks 1–11 & 13)
• Chris Neville – piano
• Steve LaSpina – bass (tracks 1–13)
• Sherman Ferguson – drums (tracks 1, 2, 4–9 & 11–13)

Guests

• Joe Williams (track 1), Diana Krall (track 2), Ruth Brown (track 3), Billy Stritch (tracks 4 & 7), Nancy Marano (tracks 5 & 11), Jon Hendricks (track 6), Lainie Kazan (track 8), Marlena Shaw (track 9), Kenny Rankin (track 10), Barbara Lea (track 12), Weslia Whitfield (track 13) – vocals
• Roy McCurdy – drums (tracks 3 & 10)