Up until Saturday (Sept. 21) there were two survivors from that legendary photo taken by Art Kane outside of number 17, 126th St. back on August 12 in 1958.
Now there is only one, Sonny Rollins. The other, Benny Golson, died on September 12 at the age of 95.
Undoubtedly one of the all-time great saxophonists, Benny Golson, like so many other great tenor players, after stints with Lionel Hampton and Dizzy Gillespie came to prominence with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and later as co-leader of the Benny Golson-Art Farmer Jazztet.
His compositions are legend and many, such as Blues March, Whisper Not, Killer Joe, Stablemates, I Remember Clifford and Along Came Betty have found their way into the library of those bands keeping the bebop/hard bop flame alive.
I never got to hear him live but the above YouTube clip goes some way to make up for it. May he Rest In Peace. Lance
1 comment :
I was fortunate to have seen him many times with Curtis Fuller and when they played his themes they sounded like one instrument. His influence was immense both as a player and composer of memorable tunes. R.I.P.
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