Weaving together stories both musical and verbal, jazz legend Benny Golson gave a 90 minute serving of hard bop comfort food before an appreciative house of guests at the Moss Theatre that included one time fellow band member Quincy Jones.
Dapper as always and reuniting with “Q”, Golson told stories of their early days together with Lionel Hampton and Dizzy Gillespie as well as childhood remembrances of growing up with an adolescent named John Coltrane.” My wife says I talk too much,” joked Golson, “but she’s not here right now!”
Displaying both skills as writer and performer, Golson and his team of Tamir Hendelman/p, Mike Gurrola/b and longtime buddy Roy McCurdy/dr dug into an upbeat and snappy read of the easy burner “Horizons Ahead” with Golson’s warm breathy tenor in full blossom. Dimming the musical lights, Golson brought out his agonizing aria “Whisper Not” as McCurdy’s soft brushes and Hendelman’s shadowy piano created a environment both soulful and adventurous.
Reminiscing of his days with the iconic trumpeter Clifford Brown, Golson stated “I never stop thinking about what would have happened if his life hadn’t been tragically cut short” before opening with a passionate and melancholy unaccompanied solo to “I Remember Clifford.”
Pepping things up a bit, Golson invited up Billy Vera for a slinky and bluesy version of the Depression Era ditty “Cherry” with the singer and tenor titan bringing back moods of the R&B days with “Bull Moose” Jackson with an infectious groove an back beat.
After letting the adroit trio bounce and sizzle to the ricocheting bebop standard “I Mean You.” Gurrola then propelled the band through a suave “Take the ‘A’ Train” with some nimble bass soloing and a richly swinging tenor by the leader. Golson finished the evening off with a tribute to childhood friend John Coltrane with a deeply dug “Mr. PC” that had the rhythm section locked in a three-legged race that segued into an infectious of “Now’s The Time.”
A man of faith and family, Golson even declared a recipe for ending all wars, “just have everyone listen to Miles Davis, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. Everyone will be in a peaceful mood after that.” Hard to argue since everyone left the theatre in a mood of good vibes and good will toward their fellow man.
Upcoming shows sponsored by The Jazz Bakery include the George Colligan All Star Tri 10/19, Circuit Rider w/ Bill Frisell 10/25, Pablo Ziegler’s Jazz Tango Trio 11/16, Kurt Elling 12/14