Benny Golson, RIP

[Steve Gray]

RIP. Was Playing New York Scene yesterday...

Only Sonny left now from the Art Kane photo

Edited 6 hours ago by Steve Gray

[mrjazzman]

During a weeks residency at Yoshi's Oakland with Mike LeDonne, Randy Brecker, Buster Williams,Carl Allen?(treated me like a King) he told me him and my dad Elmon Wright were the best of friends, did everything together, in Earl Bostics band. Said they weren't playing a lot of jazz. Mostly jump tunes. Told me about some of their escapades I can't repeat here. BG was a great story teller with keen wit and great sense of humor. I asked him one time, "Benny, how are you doing" he replied "Jerold I'm barely hanging on, I've got long finger nails"  Because of you sir I will forever be "Moanin'" at the "Five Spot After Dark" while "I Remember Clifford" then all of a sudden "Along Came Betty" "Out Of The Past" only to bump into "Killer Joe" & "Reggie of Chester" at the "Blues March" Always "Step Lightly" around "The Stroller"

[mhatta]

I didn't really like him as a tenor sax player, but I think he is the greatest jazz composer. His music had its own inherent beauty and charm, but he also left a lot of room for other people to interpret it freely (in that sense, I think he was similar to Cole Porter and Carla Bley). Bud Powell's interpretation of I Remember Clifford is a good example. RIP Maestro.

It seems that the history of "modern" jazz is about to truly come to an end.

[soulpope]

Art Farmer and Benny Golson now reunited again ....

[Gheorghe]

45 minutes ago, mhatta said:

I didn't really like him as a tenor sax player, but I think he is the greatest jazz composer. His music had its own inherent beauty and charm, but he also left a lot of room for other people to interpret it freely (in that sense, I think he was similar to Cole Porter and Carla Bley). Bud Powell's interpretation of I Remember Clifford is a good example. RIP Maestro.

It seems that the history of "modern" jazz is about to truly come to an end.

We share exactly the same impressions !  You can read mine also earlier here on this thread. 
Exactly my impressions, one of the great jazz composers, but I don´t really like his tenor playing. 

And like you I love Bud Powell´s interpretations of it, live or in the studio at "Return of Bud Powell". I can´t say which one I prefer, because Bud recorded it on almost each album in the 60´s , in all European Countries like France, Italia, Suedia, Danemarca, Belgia , Germania , everywhere......

Well, there is no end, there is so much good players around, if people would stop listen to so called "modern jazz" just because those who first played it in the 40´s, 50´s we might not be able to pay our rents........

[Milestones]

I have really enjoyed Benny Golson and his music, and I was fortunate to see him live very later-career.  I won't say it was a renaissance period...I mean did he ever have a down period as player, composer, arranger, band leader?

I turned several people on to his "Gypsy Jingle Jangle."  They loved it.  For many of them, jazz was the last thing they would listen to.

R.I.P., Benny.

 

[mikeweil]

R.I.P.

I once saw him guest with a local big band and was able to talk to him backstage after the concert as I had conducted a short interview with him via e-mal before on request of a local magazine. Very nice man. What was amazing was that his solos were full of well known phrases but sounded fresh and new coming out of his horn. Really great. He was the music.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

During Benny's last swing through Boston, he played at Scullers Jazz club (great club BTW). 89.7 FM WGBH recorded the second set that night, which was identical to the first set (which I know because I was at the first set). They have posted it on their website: https://www.wgbh.org/music/jazz/2018-02-07/benny-golson-live-from-scullers

[Milestones]

I liked Benny's playing.  He could be tasteful and bluesy, and it seemed like he never wasted a note.

 

 

Edited 1 hour ago by Milestones

[clifford_thornton]

Sad to hear, but what a life & what a legacy. RIP.

[mjazzg]

Now that was a Jazz life, what a legacy

[adh1907]

RIP. I was lucky to have seen him at Smoke in New York when he was about 80 I think. It was incredible to be sat close to him and hear him with a small group. Snappily dressed and in good playing form.