Leif Loken, 18
Seattle, Washington
Such a great, original and soulful composer. Like Cole Porter, his tunes had unexpected harmonic pathways that always resolved. Even on a tune like Killer Joe where the “A“ section is snappy and swinging, but relatively simple, the bridge rhythmic feel and harmonic progression is unexpected but sets up and resolves perfectly back into the swinging groove.
Joe Sullivan
Bethesda, MD (Washington DC area)
In memory of Benny Golson. I have been a fan of your music since high school, which has been for me the better part of 50 years. It's impossible to overstate that your compositions are landmarks in the history of modern jazz, and your performances within this magical music are immortalized by numerous recordings and writings.
Thank you for the love of music.
Phil Stallworth
Woodstock, NY
Benny Golson was an inspiring figure, as a saxophonist, composer, and as a person. Less than 48 hours before his death, I was speaking about Mr. Golson with a musical colleague with whom I’m currently on tour, baritone saxophonist Glenn Wilson, and we were agreeing that, along with Wayne Shorter, he was truly one of the luminaries as a composer. He was able to so effectively convey emotion, mood, and groove in his compositions, while simultaneously creating beautiful structural logic in them - playing a Benny Golson piece really feels like it takes one on a musical journey. Such individuality as a player and brilliant composing...
I never got to perform with Mr. Golson, or even to meet him in person, though many of my colleagues, and even at least one former student of mine, played with him. But life passes by so quickly and, back in 2020, when Mr. Golson was already in his early 90s, I made an effort to change that, and emailed Mr. Golson, expressing my appreciation and inquiring about playing together. Alas, it was too late to play with him - but what a beautiful and positive reply he sent:
Rory,
Thank you for your very kind email. That was so nice of you. Unfortunately however, my life so filled with a million things that are daily quite demanding, I will never be able to address what you suggest, and it makes me rather sad. You sound as if you are full of fire for the music. Never let me or ANYONE stop your progress, because I feel you have to say, and many are waiting to hear it.
Onward and upward, always!
Benny Golson
Thank you Benny Golson for your kindness and for everything you brought to the jazz community, to the music, and to the world!
Rory Stuart
New York
I met Benny some years ago on the Jazz Cruise. I am an alto player and had known Benny’s music for many years but never had in all the years before the chance to hear him live and have the opportunity to meet him and chat. The beauty of Benny’s music was a reflection of the beauty of Benny as a person. What a musician and what a gentleman! Every time I play “I remember Clifford” in my heart it will be I remember Benny. Rest in peace Benny. You live on in the beautiful music you created.
Tom Mieczkowski
Tampa Bay, Florida
In the late 80's or early 90's, I had the honor of meeting and hearing Mr. Golson at a venue in my hometown of San Diego called Elario's(atop the Summer House Inn). I was in my 20's and he mesmerized me with his playing, his stories, and his wonderful spirit. He went out of his way to be sincerely kind and supportive to me. I thought to myself, "Man, this guy's compositions are incredible and I can't imagine anyone else but him being able to solo over his quirky, difficult chord changes."
Well, later I did get to hear MANY other musicians play his material. A lot of them barely made it out alive!! His melodies fool you into thinking that you can fairly easily play his songs, but the CHORD CHANGES quickly test your ability to "run changes". I've seen proficient musicians CONFOUNDED by his genius songwriting.
I'm so glad that he was able to live a long, music-filled life!!
Vibe Tribe
San Diego, California
Setting Standards
Whisper Not: The Autobiography Of Benny Golson
Golson And Trane Dissed In Philly (Circa 1944)
Remembering Benny Golson: Killer Joe
Benny Golson: Dizzy Gillespie Sextet With Dexter Gordon: Blue 'N' Boogie
Access the Entire Archive for all things Benny Golson on All About Jazz
Ted Bouras
Prescott, AZ
When I first heard Benny on "Modern Art", I was thirteen and immediately decided to learn tenor sax. I was never any good and soon returned to piano, but Benny's mastery has been a part of my life ever since.
Dr. Hugh Hartwell
former Director, School of the Arts McMaster University
I was first introduced to Benny Golson through his composition "I Remember Clifford" as a high school trumpet player. That song along with other songs by Benny Golson inspired me to keep playing my horn even when it was difficult or I felt I didn't sound good enough. Thank you for making your mark on the music world and beyond. My condolences to Benny Golson's family and loved ones.
William Forcey
Ohio, USA
I have had the privilege of playing Benny's "I Remember Clifford" for several memorial services on my clarinet. I am often asked what that beautiful melody was. It's haunting simplicity is particularly poignant to those who are grieving together, as we are now.
Richard Robinson
Santa Cruz, CA
I have loved Benny's music since I first started listening to it last year. I found it when we played an arrangement of Stablemates and Along Came Betty in a big band I am in (I play tenor 1). I found another interesting connection to Benny: I know that Betty was the name of someone he saw walk into a club where he was playing, and that club happened to be in Dayton, where I currently go to school (University of Dayton)! I thought that was a very interesting coincidence. Anyways, Benny Golson was, in my opinion, one of the best and most creative players around, he could tell a story in just a few bars and write a full novel in a few choruses. I have listened to his recording of I Remember Clifford (off Benny Golson and the Philadelphians) too many times to count on my fingers. His sound on that tune is the best example of what I hope to play like someday. He was a legend, and his contributions to bebop and hard bop are not to be forgotten.
Ben Corrington
Dayton, Ohio
While working for Ruth Price (Ruth Price grew up with Benny in Philadelphia.) at the Jazz Bakery I had the opportunity to assist in the presentation of Mr. Golson many times in different venues including the Helms Bakery in Culver City, The Grammy Museum in Los Angeles and the Moss Theater in Santa Monica. Benny’s shows were part performance, part jazz history. The last time he performed at the Jazz Bakery at the Moss Theater in Santa Monica, Quincy Jones attended the show. I met Quincy at the curb and escorted him to his seat. He told me on the way in that he and Benny had played in a band together when they were teenagers. I enjoyed working his shows and learning his history of jazz; writing for Coltrane, his grief over the death of Clifford Brown stand out in my mind. I was a mostly silent presence in the green room before, at intermission and after Benny’s shows, taking the opportunity to listen to him greet and talk to friends and fans tell their stories. As a saxophonist, I was highly interested in meeting Mr. Golson. I currently play in the The Santa Monica Jazz Band directed by Keith Fiddmont. Our October 14, 2024 concert will feature a tribute to Mr. Golson. We will be performing a Quincy Jones arrangement of Benny Golson’s Little Karin. I will be playing the Baritone chair.
Gregory Dahl
Santa Monica, California
Benny Golson and Claudio Linares
I´m from Buenos Aires, Argentina, and I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Golson personally on a trip to New York when he played at Blue Note along with Ron Carter. In addition to being an exceptional musician, I have the memory of his kindness and simplicity. It is a great loss for all of us who love jazz. But his spirit will always be alive in each of us. Forever Benny..
Claudio Liñares
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Indeed it is already known even here in Europe that mister Golson passed away.
At a respectful age I might say, but still the idea he was around gave a sort of comfort
I’m a 63 years old saxophone player from the Netherlands and believe it or not, it is just for let’s say about a year and a halve that I play music from Mister Golson in a local Big Band. Especially “Along Came Betty” which I heard only from that moment stole my heart. The story behind that piece is even more to be appreciated! Of course “Killer Joe” played in the Quincy Jones recording was already a well-known piece for a long time. I feel kind of honored you’ve asked me to write down something for mister Golson. I’ll always remember him when playing a (always) challenging solo on "Along Came Betty". Mister Benny Golson, rest in peace sir!
Charles van Donselaar
The Netherlands, Europe.
I'm a Portuguese jazz fan that had the great pleasure to see Benny Golson playing in Portugal three times, twice in the early nineties and the 3rd time in 1997. For the two live shows in the early nineties Benny Golson was in a group to celebrate the great Art Blakey, playing with Curtis Fuller and Greg Bandy among other others.
It was my first jazz concert and I got free tickets from a friend. That left a big impression. After the show I purchased a new ticket for the next show 2 or 3 days later. It's always sad to know Benny passed away, but his music will continue to be great and will be played. Compositions such as Blues March, Killer Joe, I Remember Clifford, Along Came Betty, Whisper Not are immortal.
Benny Golson will continue to play at my home with his Jazztet, with his quartets and quintets, with the Jazz Messengers, and so on.
Cumprimentos
João Antunes
Portugal
His music led me to beautiful jazz world and I will be playing his great pieces.
Shuichi Takayama
Japan
RIP the great Benny Golson
Benny played at Hua Hin, Thailand in 2017, where I still reside. I'm delighted to present the text from my Facebook post of 29 March 2017 as below.
“Benny Golson is still composing great tunes too. He started his True Jazz set with "Horizon Ahead" the title of his 2016 album and one of four compositions not previously recorded. His on stage reminiscences also make great listening. At True Jazz he told us how he composed "Stablemates" one night on the bandstand during the intermission to avoid talking to his wife. It had only 14 bars compared with the usual 16, which was puzzling but seemed right so he added a "middle 8" and "Stablemates" was complete, named later after a local venue the Stables. His friend and fellow Philadelphian, John Coltrane, had recently joined the Miles Davis Quintet and told Benny that Miles was looking for new compositions. Benny told us how delighted he was when Miles recorded "Stablemates" soon after, in 1955. According to my recent discography research, It was the very first of many great Benny Golson compositions to be recorded by himself and many other musicians. It can be found on the album entitled "Miles - The New Miles Davis Quintet", which I've owned for nearly 60 years. The liner notes describe "Stablemates" as a highly intriguing composition by Benny Golson which has Miles at his searching best. This probably influenced me to buy "Benny Golson's New York Scene" the first album under his own name, recorded in 1957. Thank you True Jazz for bringing Benny Golson to Hua Hin.”
Richard Padmore
Hua Hin, Thailand
Additional Articles
Downbeat Magazine - In Memoriam
photo by Michael Jackson, Downbeat