A living icon to light the Jazz Festival stage
THE WORDS legends, giants and lions are used a lot in Jazz. That’s because there are a lot oflegends, giants and lions. Those who created, nurtured, improvised, and set the standard of excellence in Jazz over the past 100 years.
One such cat whose career spans the eras of bebop, hard bop, and contemporary musicis about to descend on the 12th Panama Jazz Festival(PJF), held from January 12 to 17, 2015 in Panama City, Republic of Panama. He is the great producer, composer, arranger, and tenor sax icon, Benny Golson.
You see, Benny Golson cuts a wide swath through Jazz, American contemporary music and pop culture in general. In the 2004 Tom Hanks film, The Terminal, it was the real Benny Golson that Hank’s character was seeking out for the great man’s autograph to complete his collection of signatures of Jazz legends.
Benny Golsonhas performed at the Apollo Theatre, Jazz at Lincoln Center(JLC) andcountless concert halls and jazz venues around the world. He has even composed music scores for TV shows like M*A*S*H, and Mission Impossible. So, it is likely that you’ve heard Benny Golson’s music. But, maybe you didn’t know it was him.
A Philadelphia native born in 1929, Golson grew up hanging with John Coltrane. As he explains, “…we were two young kids aspiring to be musicians and thinking to ourselves we were doing quite well”. The pair played with Jimmy Johnson & His Ambassadors as teenagers. The two felt lucky to be playing professionally.
Benny has had a phenomenal career, working with Lional Hampton, Benny Goodman, Dizzy Gillespie, The Heath Brothers, Earl Bostic, Johnny Hodges, Freda Payne, Blue Mithcell, Brother Jack McDuff, Art Farmer and Abbey Lincoln. The list is very long. It also includes Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McRae, Shirley Horn, Sammy Davis Jr., Mama Cass Elliott, and eventheMonkees. Yes, theMonkees.
Among his 30 albums, and 300 compositions are, Whisper Not and, I Remember Clifford, which he wrote to honor the great trumpet player after his sudden death. Golson joined Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers in 1958 when they recorded the popular Blue Note classic, Moanin’. He even wrote the 1977 hit, Killer Joe, which has been covered by countless musicians. He has also created 8 standards within the Jazz genre. Did I mention that Golson has worked withGeorge Shearing, Peggy Lee, Oscar Peterson, Eric Burden & The Animals, Diana Ross, Mel Torme andDusty Springfield?
His accomplishments are many. Golson has won the NEA Jazz Masters Award, the Benny Golson Jazz Mastesrs Award, created for him by Howard University, and was awarded the Mellon Living Legend Award in a ceremony at theKennedy Center. In 2009 he was inducted into theInternational Academy of Jazz Hall of Fame.
Benny Golson is not slowing down, however. He continues to teach young Jazz students who are amazed by his boundless energy and creativity. Reporter Jennifer Parker caught up with Golson earlier this year at his 85th birthday celebration, held at JLC’s Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola. She asked Benny about his longevity. His reply, ”…there’s no end to Jazz…we’re never satisfied with ourselves. Jazz is all about improv…we’re going to the same forest, but not the same trees. I have no idea what solos I’m going to play. I play what’s on my mind.”
This is the guy who will light up the stage at the2015 PJF. The Benny Golson Quartet includes: Benny Golson(ts), Mike LeDonne(p), Buster Williams(bs) andCarl Allen(dr).
Joining theBenny Golson Quartet will be: Danilo Perez & the Children of The Light Trio, Claudia Acuna, Brian Blade, Miguel Zenon, Pedrito Martinez, Berklee Global Jazz Institute, Mapu Jazz and much more. For the full lineup go to: panamajazzfestival.com.
For more info on Benny Golson, go to, www.bennygolson.com.
