Benny Golson, a preeminent tenor saxophonist who was also the composer of such elegant jazz standards as “I Remember Clifford,” “Along Came Betty” and “Whisper Not,” died Sept. 21 at his home in Manhattan. He was 95.
Benny Golson, jazz saxophonist and composer of surpassing grace, dies at 95
The Art Farmer/Benny Golson Jazztet was my first real reference point for the performance and, really, the culture of jazz music outside of anyone named Davis, Coltrane, or Monk.
The first track I ever heard from their 1960 MEET THE JAZZTET album was “Killer Joe.” Golson’s narration at the beginning of the tune is just as important to me as Art Farmer’s trumpet solo.
Don’t we all know a Killer Joe as described by Benny Golson?