Belafonte Returns to Carnegie Hall

by Harry Belafonte

Overview

On May 2, 1960, Harry Belafonte returned to Carnegie Hall for what was supposed to be one of the last concerts in the venerable hall's last season. Carnegie was scheduled to be torn down, although this was an edict that was thankfully short-lived. The hall was instead renovated and remains one of New York's premier showplaces. The first Carnegie Hall recording from the previous year had had such an impact on the recording industry that it opened up new vistas for live recordings. Belafonte faced the challenge of living up to his own legend. For this concert, he began what would be a concert tradition for him: sharing the spotlight with up-and-coming folk performers. Representing the new collegiate folk singing group trend was the Chad Mitchell Trio, currently appearing at New York's Blue Angel, where Belafonte had seen them perform. South African singer and activist Miriam Makeba, another Belafonte discovery, also performed, as did folk and blues singer Odetta, and the Belafonte Folk Singers. The guest stars nearly upstaged Belafonte, but this turned out to be de rigueur for his concerts. Highlights include Odetta's powerhouse medley of the work songs "I've Been Driving on Bald Mountain" and "Water Boy," the Folk Singers' exciting "Ox Drivers Song," Makeba and Belafonte's charming duet on "One More Dance," and the Mitchell Trio's exuberant Israeli song "Vaichazkem." For a finale, Belafonte turned to the Mexican folk dance "La Bamba," treating it to an eight-minute-long heels-flying festive romp. ~ Cary Ginell

Product Details

Release Date:	07/20/2018
Label:	GREYSCALE
UPC:	5056083201570

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Harry Belafonte   Primary Artist,Vocals
Odetta   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Vocals
The Belafonte Folk Singers   Primary Artist
The Chad Mitchell Trio   Primary Artist,Guest Artist
Miriam Makeba   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Vocals
Millard Thomas   Guitar
Arthur Williams   Vocals
Danny Barrajanos   Bongos,Congas
Walter Raim   Guitar
Ned Wright   Vocals
Robert DeCormier   Conductor
Ernie Calabria   Guitar
Milton Okun   Conductor

Technical Credits

Harry Belafonte   Composer
Gene Corman   Composer
Avery Robinson   Composer
C.C. Carter   Composer
Vayiven Uziaho   Composer
Peter Perri   Photography
Bill Attaway   Composer
Thomas MacCluskey   Digital Remastering
Roy de Carava   Photography
Jay Maisel   Photography
The Belafonte Folk Singers   Performer
John Pfeiffer   Reissue Producer
Odetta   Arranger,Composer,Performer,Adaptation
Dave Lazar   Composer
Hector Acosta   Composer
Fred Hellerman   Composer
Bob Bollard   Producer,Liner Notes
The Chad Mitchell Trio   Performer
Bob Simpson   Engineer
Irving Burgie   Composer
Nate Johnson   Digital Remastering
Miriam Makeba   Composer,Performer
Harry Thomas   Composer
Larnelle Harris   Composer