“…this new collection from composer Benny Golson is flawless, perfect in every sense of the word!… Bob Karcy and Arkadia have produced a classic CD, showcasing and revealing the genius of Benny Golson at work in the world of jazz, a place Benny Golson has called home for over 40 years…. “On Gossamer Wings”, featuring the gifted pianist, Lara Downes on solo piano…is a classic of its kind, and it will find many followers who enjoy good music blessed with much feeling, sensitivity, style, in-depth meanings, and mood…Each song is well-performed, and pure listening entertainment…One word sums up this Benny Golson collection: Classic… ONE DAY, FOREVER is a classic, and one you will truly enjoy having in your CD collection. ONE DAY, FOREVER is a masterpiece, unique, special, and Benny Golson at his finest! Excellent in all aspects! Solo work on all selections is memorable, and enjoyable! Get a copy soon and share it with a friend!” – Lee Prosser, jazzreview.com
This Arkadia Records album, “Benny Golson: One Day, Forever”, which features Shirley Horn, Art Farmer, Curtis Fuller, Ron Carter, and more, showcases the expansive Jazz repertoire of the NEA Jazz Master and famed composer and tenor saxophonist. Songs which have become standards, such as Golson’s famed compositions Killer Joe and Blue Walk, are examples of Golson’s signature style, whereas other selections such as Along Came Betty and Are You Real? provide Golson and former Jazztet members Farmer and Fuller a chance to relive the past.
Like the other selections on this album, the title track, One Day, Forever and Sad to Say, were written by Golson; but are special in that they are the first ever compositions by the NEA Jazz Master where he also penned the lyrics. Performed by Grammy Award winning vocalist Shirley Horn, who is backed by a string orchestra consisting of 12 cellos, the song was written as a tribute to the late wife of Golson’s dear friend and colleague, Art Farmer.
“Benny Golson has made many excellent recordings over the decades, but One Day, Forever is in a class by itself.” – All Music Guide
The world premiere of his solo piano work, which is performed by classical pianist Lara Downes, showcases Golson’s compositional skills in the classical realm, as it takes a seemingly moody, melodic and spatial approach then he is known for.
“4.5 stars.” – Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
For over 45 years, Benny Golson has been one of the architects of Jazz. His compositions have contributed to the songbooks of many groups and leaders, from Miles Davis to Quincy Jones. Now alongside this group of Jazz legends and future stars, with this release, “Benny Golson: One Day, Forever”, Benny Golson revisits some of his biggest hits, but also looks to the future to prove that even an iconic musical mind like Golson’s continues to grow creatively.
Song Selection
- One Day, Forever – 6:40
- Blue Walk – 5:28
- Killer Joe – 5:27
- Are You Real? – 2:09
- Sad To Say – 7:10
- Out of the Past – 6:46
- Blues Alley – 5:15
- Along Came Betty – 8:22
- On Gossamer Wings – 6:21
All songs composed by Benny Golson
Produced by: Bob Karcy
Total Time: 63 minutes
• On tracks 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8:
Benny Golson: Tenor saxophone
Art Farmer: Trumpet
Curtis Fuller: Trombone
Geoff Keezer: Piano
Dwayne Burno: Bass
Joe Farnsworth: Drums
• On tracks 1 and 5:
Shirley Horn: Vocals
Benny Golson: Tenor saxophone
Benny Golson: Arranger of 12-cello string orchestra
Mulgrew Miller: Piano
Ron Carter: Bass
Carl Allen: Drums
Bill Mays: Keyboards
Robert Carlisle: French horn
John Clark: French Horn
Elizabeth Mann: Flute
Gerard Reuter: Oboe
• On track 9:
Lara Downes: Solo piano
What the Critics Say:
“…Mr. Golson’s tenor-saxophone playing was often stunning. There is a lot of Coleman Hawkins in his playing — perhaps more than in any other living saxophonist — and it’s lovely to hear such a refined, manly prewar version of harmonic modernism.” – Ben Ratliff, The New York Times
“…The tenor saxophonist’s approach remains fresh and filled with vitality...” – Ken Franckling, UPI Newswire
“…Benny is whispering melodies through his tenor sax, nicely complemented by the warmth of Shirley Horn and strings on two vocal tracks. This is a signal of Benny’s breadth as a composer and reach as a musician. This is a signal of Benny’s breadth as a composer and reach as a musician.” – D. Oscar Groomes, O’s Place Jazz Newsletter
“…this recording is a celebration of his compositional genius and his underrated full-bodied tenor sax sound.” – Eugene Holley Jr., Schwann Inside Jazz & Classical
“Certainly, one could say, that One Day, Forever contains something for everyone.” – Don Williamson, All About Jazz
About Benny Golson:
Multi-talented and internationally famous jazz legend, – a composer, arranger, lyricist, producer – and tenor saxophonist of world note, Benny Golson was born in Philadelphia, PA on January 25, 1929.
Raised with an impeccable musical pedigree, Golson has played in the bands of world famous Benny Goodman, Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton, Earl Bostic and Art Blakey.
Composer/Arranger/Performing Artist:
Few jazz musicians can claim to be true innovators and even fewer can boast of a performing and recording career that literally redefines the term “Jazz.” A prodigious writer, Golson has written well over 300 compositions. Benny Golson has made major contributions to the world of music with such jazz standards as:
“Killer Joe”, “I Remember Clifford”, “Along Came Betty”, “Stablemates”, “Whisper Not”, “Blues March”, “Five Spot After Dark”, and “Are you Real”
Benny Golson is the only living jazz artist to have written 8 standards for jazz repertoire. These jazz standards have found their way into countless recordings internationally over the years and are still being recorded.
He has recorded over 30 albums, including six for Arkadia Records, in the United States and Europe under his own name and innumerable ones with other major artists.
For more than 60 years, Golson has enjoyed an illustrious, musical career in which he has not only made scores of recordings but has also composed and arranged music for:
Count Basie, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Sammy Davis Jr., Mama Cass Elliott, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Shirley Horn, David Jones and the Monkees, Quincy Jones, Peggy Lee, Carmen McRae, Anita O’Day, Itzhak Perlman, Oscar Peterson, Lou Rawls, Mickey Rooney, Diana Ross, The Animals (Eric Burden), Mel Torme, George Shearing, and Dusty Springfield.
His prolific writing includes scores for hit TV series and films:
“M*A*S*H”, “Mannix”, “Mission Impossible”, “Mod Squad”, “Room 222”, “Run for Your Life”, “The Partridge Family”, “The Academy Awards”, and “The Karen Valentine Show”, Television specials for ABC, CBS and NBC. Television specials for BBC in London and Copenhagen, Denmark. Theme for Bill Cosby’s last TV show, and A french film ‘Des Femmes Disparaissent” (Paris)
He has written music for national radio and television spots for some of the major advertising agencies in the country. Some of these commercials were for:
Borateem, Canada Dry, Carnation, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Clorox, Dodge, General Telephone, Gillette, Heinz Foods, Jack in The Box, Liquid Plum’r, MacDonald’s, Mattel Toys, Monsanto, Nissan, Ohrbachs, Ore-Ida Frozen Potatoes, Parliament Cigarettes, Pepsi Cola, and Texaco.
Educator:
Benny Golson has absolute mastery of the jazz medium. He has not only blazed a trail in the world of jazz but is passionate about teaching jazz to young and old alike. He has lectured at the Lincoln Center through a special series by Wynton Marsalis. He has lectured to doctoral candidates at New York University and to the faculty at National University at San Diego.
Honored with doctorates from William Paterson College, Wayne, NJ and Berklee School of Music, Boston, MA, Dr. Golson has also conducted workshops and clinics at:
- Appalachian University, Boone, NC
- Berklee School fo Music, Boston, MA
- Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY
- Howard University, Washington, DC
- Julliard School of Music, New York, NY
- Manhattan School of Music, New York, NY
- New England Conservatory
- Paris Conservatory, Paris, France
- Rutgers University, New Orleans, LA
- Stanford University, Stanford, CA
- University of Denver, Denver, CO
- University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
- University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
- Lawrence University Conservatory of Music, Appleton, WI
- William Paterson College, Wayne, NJ
Golson’s musical odyssey has taken him around the world. In 1987 he was sent by the US State Department on a cultural tour of Southeast Asia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Burma, Singapore. Later, Philip Morris International sent him on an assignment to Bangkok, Thailand to write music for the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra.
A live performer who consistently knocks audiences off their feet, Benny Golson has given hundreds of performances in the USA, Europe, South America, the Far East and Japan for decades. Benny is also working on a major college textbook and his autobiography.
This humble musical giant continues to impress critics, fans and fellow musicians with his prodigious contributions to the world of Jazz.
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