Benny Carter, "Myra"

Benny Carter, "Myra"

Jazz
Arts at Harvard
Arranging

The Harvard Jazz Band commissioned this piece from saxophonist Benny Carter in honor of Myra Mayman, director of Harvard’s Office for the Arts from 1973-2001. Carter faxed his handwritten lead sheets to the band before its first performance, to be supplemented by a lead sheet arranged by Allen Feinstein, piano arrangement by Gene Di Novi, and 6-part vocal arrangement by Rob Opdycke.

This performance by Sarah Lazarus and the Harvard Jazz Band was included in the concert "Mood Crimson: 30 Years of Jazz at Harvard," which took place on April 6, 2002 in Sanders Theatre and continued a long-running concert series pairing major professional figures in jazz with Harvard undergraduates. This rendition includes solos by Lazarus and tenor saxophonists Don Braden and Anton Schwartz, culminating in a special "Happy Birthday" coda. 

Geolocation: Sanders Theatre at Harvard University.

Carter, Benny, 1907-2003

Benny Carter. “Myra,” revised lead sheet and vocal score (2001).
The Tom Everett Collection of Jazz Scores, 1971-2011. Ms. Coll. 135, Box 1

"Mood Crimson: 30 Years of Jazz at Harvard" (Cambridge, Mass.: Office of the Arts, Harvard University, 2002).
Lamont Library Media CD CDISC LFP 2002cd D

Bee Cee Music Co. (score)
Office of the Arts at Harvard University (CD)

Composed in 2001; acquired in 2011

Feinstein, Allen

Di Novi, Gene

Opdycke, Rob

Handwritten leadsheet; published piano arrangement; digitized CD recording

English