Benny Golson 1929-2024 (1/2)
Saturday 19th October, 17:00 – House of Hard Bop.
On September 21st, 2024, Benny Golson passed away at the age of 94. Tenor saxophonist, bandleader, arranger and composer. A number of his compositions acquired standard status, including Blues March, Whisper Not, Stablemates, Killer Joe. From 1958 onwards, he quickly pushed Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers into the premier league of Hard Bop. A year later, he started the successful sextet The Jazztet, together with trumpeter Art Farmer.
In 1962, Golson went on to do other things – studio work, commercial music, popular television shows. But in the 80s and 90s, together with Art Farmer, he breathed new life into The Jazztet.
1958 is a productive recording year for Golson. He is the tenorist on Abbey Lincoln’s It’s Magic. Next to him trumpeter Art Farmer and trombonist Curtis Fuller; drummer is Philly Joe Jones. The third album under his own name, The Other Side of Benny Golson, also with Fuller and Jones, is released on Riverside; Jymie Merritt on bass. He is next to Art Farmer on his Modern Art. Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers make the iconic album Moanin’, bassist Jymie Merritt. In Paris, a live performance by the Messengers leads to Paris Olympia, and to the soundtrack album with the film music for Des Femmes Disparaissent. That European tour in 1958 also brings the group to the Netherlands: the Concertgebouw and the Kurhaus in Scheveningen. A recording of the performance in Scheveningen will also be released. On the playlist there, Golson’s Along Came Betty, I Remember Clifford and Whisper Not.
And then there is also Benny Golson and the Philadelphians (1958). Messenger Lee Morgan (trumpet), Ray Bryant (piano), Percy Heath (bass) and Philly Joe Jones (drums). This opens the hour. 1. You’re Not the Kind (Gigi Gryce). The theme – sax and trumpet – is an alternation of unison (both instruments the same note) and unirhythmic two-part harmony. Something we often hear in Golson’s arrangements. His solos usually start in a lower register, after which he goes up with long, faster strings of notes. Tangible dynamics.
2. Blues on My Mind is a Golson composition. Reduction in tempo.
3. Golson’s Stablemates became a standard. When the Miles Davis Quintet recorded a record for Prestige in 1955, Miles: The New Miles Davis Quintet, Coltrane asked Davis to include this piece by his friend Golson in the playlist. And so it happened. Davis slowed the tempo and kept it mostly unison between the horns. This version gave the piece a big boost, but did not make it onto Davis’ repertoire list. The opening is granted to drummer Jones.
4. The subdued Thursday’s Theme shows Golson’s quality as a ballad composer. His solo is in line with that.
5. Afternoon in Paris was written by John Lewis (among others pianist of the Modern Jazz Quartet).
6. Calgary was the brainchild of pianist Ray Bryant, who also takes the first solo. Anyone who is not cheerful, or even more cheerful, should seek out a therapist – specialized in jazz.
Meet the Jazztet (1960) is the recording debut of this group founded by Golson and Farmer. Trombonist Curtis Fuller is the third horn player. Also with McCoy Tyner piano, Addison Farmer (brother of) bass and Lex Hunphries drums.
1. Serenata is not a composition by Golson, but he did create the layered arrangement. A spicy opening.
2. It Ain’t Necessarily So
3. Avalon
4. I Remember Clifford (Golson)
5. Golson’s Blues March appeared in 1958 on the album Moanin’ by Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. It became a standard. The piece – in blues form – was inspired by the marching bands of New Orleans. It is in the repertoire of many military and other marching bands.
Top Notch Hard Bop! which will be continued in the next episode of House of Hard Bop.
House of Hard Bop – Eric Ineke
