>Home> Headlines>
Saxophonist Benny Golson has penned some of the most memorable melodies in jazz: "Killer Joe", "Whisper Not", "Along Came Betty", and "Stablemates". His considerable compositional talents even roused the attention of Hollywood, where he spent the middle part of his career working for television and film. Popular programs like "M*A*S*H", "The Six Million Dollar Man", and "Mission:Impossible" all benefited from the Golson touch. But throughout his glory years as a composer, Golson has been leading jazz groups, recording and touring worldwide. At 80, he shows no signs of letting up either.
"New Time, New 'Tet" provides a lesson to jazz fans in 2009 of what a straight-ahead jazz album should be. Armed with some of New York's finest, Golson creates an environment of joyous swing, ballads, and a sterling vocal track. He includes a pair of clever classical-meets-jazz moments with "Verdi's Voice" and "L'Adieu", the latter being a ballad version of Chopin's famed waltz of the same name (op. 69, no. 1). Golson generously steps aside for this jazzed up Chopin to feature trumpeter Eddie Henderson. The session gets a tremendous lift from Henderson who at 68 has never sounded stronger. In fact, I would recommend this CD on the basis of his playing alone (there's more here than great trumpet solos, but if that's all you're after you won't be disappointed).
Al Jarreau makes a guest appearance on the Golson classic "Whisper Not". While Jarreau lends obvious commercial appeal, he also gives the CD a musical lift too. In the wake of a Grammy-winning pop-jazz career, it's easy to forget what a strong straight-ahead jazz vocalist he is. The placement of this track in the middle of the set also gives the program a nice arc and the ears a little contrast to the otherwise horn-centric music.
Though he adds a few new original compositions to the mix, this is primarily a performance-oriented CD. And to that end "New Time, New 'Tet" earns a strong rating for its overall consistency and masterful musicianship.
Highlights: "Gypsy Jingle-Jangle", "From Dream to Dream", "Airegin"
Rating: ***
Label: Concord
Buy New Time, New 'Tet on Amazon
Share this story on Facebook
Benny Golson "New Time, New 'Tet"
by Andrew Lienhard
Published: Feb 27 2009
Saxophonist Benny Golson has penned some of the most memorable melodies in jazz: "Killer Joe", "Whisper Not", "Along Came Betty", and "Stablemates". His considerable compositional talents even roused the attention of Hollywood, where he spent the middle part of his career working for television and film. Popular programs like "M*A*S*H", "The Six Million Dollar Man", and "Mission:Impossible" all benefited from the Golson touch. But throughout his glory years as a composer, Golson has been leading jazz groups, recording and touring worldwide. At 80, he shows no signs of letting up either. "New Time, New 'Tet" provides a lesson to jazz fans in 2009 of what a straight-ahead jazz album should be. Armed with some of New York's finest, Golson creates an environment of joyous swing, ballads, and a sterling vocal track. He includes a pair of clever classical-meets-jazz moments with "Verdi's Voice" and "L'Adieu", the latter being a ballad version of Chopin's famed waltz of the same name (op. 69, no. 1). Golson generously steps aside for this jazzed up Chopin to feature trumpeter Eddie Henderson. The session gets a tremendous lift from Henderson who at 68 has never sounded stronger. In fact, I would recommend this CD on the basis of his playing alone (there's more here than great trumpet solos, but if that's all you're after you won't be disappointed).
Al Jarreau makes a guest appearance on the Golson classic "Whisper Not". While Jarreau lends obvious commercial appeal, he also gives the CD a musical lift too. In the wake of a Grammy-winning pop-jazz career, it's easy to forget what a strong straight-ahead jazz vocalist he is. The placement of this track in the middle of the set also gives the program a nice arc and the ears a little contrast to the otherwise horn-centric music.
Though he adds a few new original compositions to the mix, this is primarily a performance-oriented CD. And to that end "New Time, New 'Tet" earns a strong rating for its overall consistency and masterful musicianship.
Highlights: "Gypsy Jingle-Jangle", "From Dream to Dream", "Airegin"
Rating: ***
Label: Concord
Buy New Time, New 'Tet on Amazon
