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A Conversation with Benny Golson
by AAJ Staff
One of the most successful talents on the Arkadia Jazz label is without a doubt the phenomenal Benny Golson. The tenor saxophonist, composer, lyricist, arranger, educator and jazz icon, holds the distinction of being the only living jazz legend to have written eight standards for jazz repertoire: “Killer Joe," “Along Came Betty," “Whisper Not" “Step Lightly," “I Remember Clifford," “Stablemates" “Blues March," and “Out of the Past" are among his major contributions to the world of jazz standards. The multi-talented ...
Continue ReadingBenny Golson Funky Quintet: That’s Funky
by C. Michael Bailey
Part 1: Way Back When. I had a colleague that always insisted that the Creedence Clearwater Revival’s recording Green River sounded better on vinyl than remastered for compact disc. I compared the two and I found this to be true, but probably not for any sonic reasons. Analog recordings are almost always warmer and rounder than their digital counterparts. There is something about that slightly “muddy” sound (and if you are wondering what I mean by that, listen to the ...
Continue ReadingBenny Golson: I Remember Miles
by C. Michael Bailey
A Pleasant Surprise. I had been anticipating the release of Shirley Horn's tribute to Miles Davis, I Remember Miles, when I was searching a popular internet music source. I searched on the title and up popped this hitherto unknown to this writer tribute from tenorist Benny Golson. As the Horn disc had not yet been released, I ordered this one. You know, one should have expected this from the composer of “I Remember Clifford." The History Channel. Had ...
Continue ReadingBenny Golson: The Jazz Messengers: The Legacy Of Art Blakey
by Jim Santella
Five former members of The Jazz Messengers plus drummer Lewis Nash make up this Art Blakey Legacy Band that has toured the U.S. recently and paid homage to the legendary teacher and leader. Tenor saxophonist Benny Golson, trumpeter Terence Blanchard, trombonist Curtis Fuller, pianist Geoff Keezer, bassist Peter Washington and drummer Nash perform compositions written by Messengers for that unit: Wayne Shorter wrote “One by One," Fuller wrote “A La Mode," Blanchard wrote “Oh, By the Way," Cedar Walton wrote ...
Continue ReadingBenny Golson: Tenor Legacy
by Jack Bowers
Benny Golson is back, this time with a salute to 10 legends of the tenor saxophone (including Benny himself, of course). It's such a daunting task that Golson has called for help, sharing the spotlight with tenors Branford Marsalis (on “Body and Soul," dedicated to Coleman Hawkins), Harold Ashby (on five tracks) and James Carter (on four), both of whom take part in a three-tenor conclave with Golson on the busy opener, Lester Young's “Lester Leaps In." Other celebrated tenor ...
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