* En anglais uniquement
Benny Golson is a talented composer/arranger whose tenor playing has continued to evolve with time. After attending Howard University (1947-1950) he worked in Philadelphia with
Bull Moose Jackson's R&B band (1951) at a time when it included one of his writing influences,
Tadd Dameron on piano.
Golson played with
Dameron for a period in 1953, followed by stints with
Lionel Hampton (1953-1954), and
Johnny Hodges and
Earl Bostic (1954-1956). He came to prominence while with
Dizzy Gillespie's globetrotting big band (1956-1958), as much for his writing as for his tenor playing (the latter was most influenced by
Don Byas and
Lucky Thompson).
Golson wrote such standards as "I Remember Clifford" (for the late
Clifford Brown), "Killer Joe," "Stablemates," "Whisper Not," "Along Came Betty," and "Blues March" during 1956-1960. His stay with
Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers (1958-1959) was significant, and during 1959-1962 he co-led
the Jazztet with
Art Farmer. From that point on
Golson gradually drifted away from jazz and concentrated more on working in the studios and with orchestras including spending a couple of years in Europe (1964-1966). When
Golson returned to active playing in 1977, his tone had hardened and sounded much closer to
Archie Shepp than to
Don Byas. Other than an unfortunate commercial effort for Columbia in 1977,
Golson has recorded consistently rewarding albums (many for Japanese labels) since that time including a reunion with
Art Farmer and
Curtis Fuller in a new
Jazztet. Through the years he has recorded as a leader for Contemporary, Riverside, United Artists, New Jazz, Argo, Mercury, and Dreyfus among others. Returning once again to the spirit of the original
Jazztet,
Golson released
New Time, New 'Tet on Concord Records in 2009. ~ Scott Yanow