Benny Golson in Indpls. Friday night

[ghost of miles]

Benny Golson 12/03 Indpls.

I'll be there w/my wife and fellow WFIU jazz DJ Joe Bourne... let me know if you'll be there, sheldonm, rachel, bol, jazzmessenger, etc., and we can flash one another the secret Org. hand signals.

[sheldonm]

I'm in!

Mark

[ghost of miles]

I'll look for you, sheldonm! Anybody else from Organissimo who happens to be in attendance--I'll be the guy with the "Great Day in Harlem" photo T-shirt. (Surely no one else will be enough of a geek to wear said shirt.)

[pryan]

...I'll be the guy with the "Great Day in Harlem" photo T-shirt. (Surely no one else will be enough of a geek to wear said shirt.)

A safe bet, I think.

[rachel]

I'll be the guy with the "Great Day in Harlem" photo T-shirt.  (Surely no one else will be enough of a geek to wear said shirt.)

Ah, hell.... I guess I can't wear mine now.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend; I have a prior commitment. Darn! It sounds like a great show. Be sure to fill us in on all of the details. Hope you guys have fun.

[sheldonm]

I'll be the guy with the "Great Day in Harlem" photo T-shirt.  (Surely no one else will be enough of a geek to wear said shirt.)

Ah, hell.... I guess I can't wear mine now.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend; I have a prior commitment. Darn! It sounds like a great show. Be sure to fill us in on all of the details. Hope you guys have fun.

Golson was excellent, as was the local rhythm section of Bryson Kern on drums, Luke Gillespie on piano and Jack Helsley on bass. The band played for probably 1 1/2 hours or maybe more; played Stablemates, I remember Clifford, Mr. PC and many others I can't recall this morning; plus a couple of blues tunes. Ghost or JazzMessenger may be able to help with additional titles as they were both in attendance. Made lots of photographs but had permission to shoot during the first two tunes; luckily each were about 15 minutes long! Went backstage for a bit after the show and talked to Benny. He was preparing to do a Q/A with a handful of college students. I'll post some photos from the event in a couple days.

While we were talking, a man came up and gave Benny a note that said Max Roach has been moved into a nursing home and wasn't doing well .

Mark

[ghost of miles]

Yes, that was a hell of a "local rhythm section!" Luke and Jack in particular really seemed on top of their game last night... Golson introduced most of his tunes with long, very interesting stories ("My wife says that I talk too much," he joked, "but she's not here tonight"), often drawing on his adolescent playing experiences with John Coltrane, or reflecting upon the day he & his bandmates saw Walter Davis Jr. running up the street towards them in Harlem, crying because he'd just heard that Clifford Brown was dead. Other tunes besides the ones sheldonm mentioned included "Along Came Betty," "Whisper Not," "Take the A Train," and an opener called "Horizontal" or "Horizon" something--can't quite remember. One of the blues tunes (w/vocalist J.C. Faulk added) was a Charles Brown favorite of mine, "Black Night." Quite a show! Golson appeared to be in very good health. And much thanks to sheldonm for snagging the three front-row seats for me, my wife, and Joe Bourne! Never dreamed I'd get to sit ten feet away from Benny Golson while he played "I Remember Clifford." That has to be one of my best live-jazz moments to date.

[sheldonm]

That has to be one of my best live-jazz moments to date.

....amen, brother!

[sal]

Post some pics whenever you can, Mark!

[jazzydaddy]

Other tunes besides the ones sheldonm mentioned included "Along Came Betty," "Whisper Not," "Take the A Train," and an opener called "Horizontal" or "Horizon" something--can't quite remember.

Hey Guys,

I'm glad to hear Benny is still playing so well. I have seen him several times

over the past 7 years and he has never ceased to amaze me; the man appears to be immortal. The strength of his tone that he manages to muster at his age is nothing short of amazing. And of course his improvising is an utter joy to listen to. He is certainly one of jazz's premiere spokesman and a consumate gentleman as well. I'm sure I left out a few deserving praises. All I can say is that we are extremely fortunate that Benny decided to return to playing after many years of writing in the studios. Very few can make that kind of transition later in the game.

BTW, I'm sure the opening tune must have been "Hirizon Ahead".

You can find a recorded version of it on Benny's sextet date entitled

"Remembering Clifford" on the Milestone label. It features fellow

Philadelphian John Swana on trumpet and Mike LeDonne on piano.

There's also a nice version of "Five Spot After Dark" on the album... Get it!!

Mark, I too will be looking forward to seeing your photos!!

Take care guys,

Don

[jazzmessenger]

I'll look for you, sheldonm! Anybody else from Organissimo who happens to be in attendance--I'll be the guy with the "Great Day in Harlem" photo T-shirt. (Surely no one else will be enough of a geek to wear said shirt.)

So, that was you with the T-shirt. If I had seen the thread before the show, I would have introduced myself. Maybe we will meet next time.

Yes, the show was great. I heard some of the same stories/jokes before, but they were still entertaining. As jazzdaddy wrote, the first tune was "Horizon Ahead". I think he also played "What is This Thing Called Love?" and "Beautiful Love" from the movie "The Mummy". There may have been others, but I don't remeber.

[sheldonm]

I'll look for you, sheldonm!  Anybody else from Organissimo who happens to be in attendance--I'll be the guy with the "Great Day in Harlem" photo T-shirt.  (Surely no one else will be enough of a geek to wear said shirt.)

So, that was you with the T-shirt. If I had seen the thread before the show, I would have introduced myself. Maybe we will meet next time.

Yes, the show was great. I heard some of the same stories/jokes before, but they were still entertaining. As jazzdaddy wrote, the first tune was "Horizon Ahead". I think he also played "What is This Thing Called Love?" and "Beautiful Love" from the movie "The Mummy". There may have been others, but I don't remeber.

....ah, I knew there were some we missed!