This is the first of my Sunday Articles dedicated to a Jazz Legend.
This Sunday, the first of the series, it is dedicated to a Bebop Legend: Mr Benny Golson.
Born on January 25th, 1929 (he is now age 87), Golson is a much loved (and many times forgotten by younger generations) hero of one of the most important eras of modern Jazz.
He was part of a bunch of musicians from Philadelphia who would in time change the way we saw Jazz. As a young kid he used to play with other promising musicians, people like the young John Coltrane, Red Garland, Jimmy Heath, Percy Heath, Philly Joe Jones, and Red Rodney (nice school friends to have if you ask me!).
After several bands straight out of college, he joined the “big leagues”, playing from 53 until 59 with Tadd Dameron, Lionel Hampton, Johnny Hodges, Earl Bostic, Dizzy Gillespie, and Art Blakey, with whom he recorded the classic Moanin’ in 1958.
In 1995 Golson received the NEA Jazz Masters Award of the National Endowment for the Arts. In October 2007 Golson accepted the Mellon Living Legend Legacy Award presented by the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation at a ceremony at the Kennedy Center. Furthermore, during the same month, he won the University of Pittsburgh International Academy of Jazz Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award at the university’s 37th Annual Jazz Concert in the Carnegie Music Hall. In November 2009, Benny was inducted into the International Academy of Jazz Hall of Fame during a performance at the University of Pittsburgh’s annual jazz seminar and concert.
So, after reviewing this “young man´s” incredible credentials, how about if we just get to it!
Here is the first of our Sunday Jazz concerts.
I invite you to simply enjoy the glorious music of Mr. Benny Golson.
Until next time (and have a great Sunday!)
Ignacio
©2016 by Ignacio Alperin Bruvera
IGNACIO ALPERIN: THE ART OF THINKING OUT LOUD / EL ARTE DE PENSAR EN VOZ ALTA 