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Remembering Benny Golson: Killer Joe

By Ian Patterson
September 26, 2024
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Benny Golson, one of Philadelphia's most famous jazz sons, died on 21 September, 2024. He was 95. One of the last giants of the golden age of jazz, Golson enjoyed a rich career as a leader, composer and arranger. His recording career as a leader spanned seven decades, from The Modern Touch (Riverside, 1958) to Horizon Ahead (Highnote, 2016). Golson continued to perform into his '90s, still leading small ensembles and big bands who played his charts.

Born in Philadelphia in 1929, Golson befriended local boy

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane and the two formed a lasting friendship. Recalling his teenage years in Whisper Not: The Autobiography Of Benny Golson (Temple University, 2016), Golson related the impact of seeing the

Lionel Hampton

vibraphone
1908 - 2002

" data-original-title="" title="">Lionel Hampton band, and

Dizzy Gillespie

trumpet
1917 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Dizzy Gillespie with

Charlie Parker

saxophone, alto
1920 - 1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Parker when they came to town: "This lyrical thunder, this majestic, joyful sound, changed my life."

Lyrical, majestic, joyful—adjectives that describe Golson's own music very well. Not for nothing have Golson's compositions such as "I Remember Clifford," "Stablemates," Whisper Not," "Along Came Betty" and "Killer Joe" become bonafide jazz standards. Nor does a day go by without Golson's music reaching the ears of millions of people, his writing and arranging featuring in hit TV shows that run on an endless loop such as Mission Impossible and M*A*S*H.

Golson would play with Gillespie,

Art Blakey

drums
1919 - 1990

" data-original-title="" title="">Art Blakey—for whom he was a highly influential musical director—

Art Farmer

flugelhorn
1928 - 1999

" data-original-title="" title="">Art Farmer and countless others during his distinguished career.

In humble homage to Benny Golson, one-time, long-time Jazz Messenger, we offer one of his best loved tunes, "Killer Joe."

Contact Ian Patterson on All About Jazz.
Ian is dedicated to the promotion of jazz and all creative music all over the world, and to catching just a little piece of it for himself.

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