Benny Golson–“Horizon Ahead”–May CD of the Month

Among the living jazz musicians and followers, very few names in jazz command as much respect as Benny Golson. He is a gifted saxophonist adept at playing swing, bop, ballads or progressive jazz. He is also a noted arranger and an amazing composer with at least 6 entries into the jazz standards canon and a dozen other important compositions. He began his professional career after WW2 while still a senior in high school in his home town of Philadelphia. Mr. Golson is only one of two survivors of the renowned Great Day in Harlem photograph, KUVO’s artist of the year-Sonny Rollins being the other. Benny is an NEA Jazz Master and an inductee into the International Academy of Jazz Hall of Fame.  He had a cameo appearance in the Tom Hanks film, The Terminal where his music is heard as well. Moreover, Benny arranged TV theme songs and scores for Mission Impossible, M A S H, the Cosby Show, It Takes a Thief and several others.

Golson turned 87 years young earlier this year when he recorded his latest album, Horizon Ahead for the HighNote label. For this stellar session the creator of Killer Joe and I Remember Clifford is joined by Mike LeDonne on piano, Buster Williams on bass and Carl Allen on drums. Despite his age, Golson still retains his signature smoky smooth sax sounds that is out of the Coleman Hawkins-Lester Young school with added ingredients from the school of bop he acquired while a long time member of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messenger as not only saxophonist but as writer and music director as well. Horizon Ahead features 5 rearranged standards and 4 originals by Benny. There is no doubt that after listening to this CD, your horizons will be much brighter.