| Label: CONCORD Catalog: CJA31121 Format: CD Benny Golson: sax / Eddie Henderson: trumpet / Steve Davis: trombone / Mike LeDonne: piano / Buster Williams: bass / Carl Allen: drums1. Grove's Groove 8:33; 2. Airegin 6:44; 3. Dream to Dream 7:33; 4. Whisper Not 4:35; 5. Epistrophy 8:44; 6. L'Adieu 5:38; 7. Love Me in a Special Way 7:06; 8. Gypsy Jungle 7:12; 9. Verdi's Voice 7:24; 10. Uptown Afterburn 7:08
Benny Golson has long been a leading composer and arranger in the bop/hard bop continuum, and yet he is probably less well-known than he should be. At one time he and Art Farmer co-led the Jazztet, an influential band that allowed Golson to develop his original writing and ensemble orchestration ideas. These concepts have been adopted by many other musicians and are now part of the mainstream jazz sound of players like Eric Alexander, Bill Charlap, et al.
Golson’s current disc New Time, New ‘Tet, is a strong document of his work. A great ensemble plays Golson’s earthy, swinging compositions and originals with fire and beauty. His tenor sound is still warm and present at age 80 and his performance on this record is confident, while his group arrangements are still very current-sounding.
Perhaps his most recorded song, the standard “Whisper Not” here features vocalist Al Jarreau, as well as some great playing from trumpeter Eddie Henderson.
The mark of a great arranger is his ability to shed new light on familiar works and bring an original concept to something that has been done many times before. Golson’s arrangement of “Airegin”, a tune that is usually played at breakneck pace, slows it down and exposes a different melodic side of the tune. The brilliant arrangement of Monk’s “Epistrophy” is also captivating, while trombonist Steve Davis shines on “From Dream to Dream.”
Throughout the record, the ensemble work is particularly strong and the rhythm section stands out, particularly the sparkling work of pianist Mike LeDonne. Drummer Carl Allen steers the ship with a graceful, light touch and burns in his extended solo feature on the album closer “Uptown Afterburn.” Everything is evident in the mix which is clear and transparent and has a very big sound. The voices of the horns are well-balanced, with Golson’s darker tenor nicely offset by Henderson’s lively sound.
All in all, for fans of acoustic jazz that focuses on ensemble playing and songwriting, rather than vehicles for the exposition of technique, this album is a great chance to become acquainted with a true modern master. Concord Records has also released a worthwhile retrospective called The Best of Benny Golson.
Price: $16.98 |