Benny Golson Marches On

Home , Benny Golson, Chu Berry, Earl Bostic, The Jazztet

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Our One Hundred Forty-Eighth Program 2001-2002

Sponsoredby the Departmentof Music and the New HampshireLibrary of Tladitional Jazz 8 p.m.Monday,October 22,2001 JohnsonTheatre, Paul CreativeArts Center,Durham. NH THE ARTISTS .ltenny Golson dt Uo.

The elementswhich nourishartistic creativity are,quite properly,botb diverseand mysterious" Someartists find inspirationin the selectivityof isolation,while othersrespond to the multifarious stimuli of the world at large. Although an immenselyrespected and influential figure in thejazz community for severaldecades, those who krew Benny Golsonmainly through his compositionof severaljazz standards(for example,Elues March and,I RememberClifford), or his membershipin ArtBlakey's Jazz Messengersor the Jazztet with ArtFamer might be a bit surprised by this samplingof namesfrom his resum6-Mickey Rooney,Mattel Toys, The PartridgeFamily, Itzhak Perlman,Chevrolet, and M.A.S.H. At the very leastthis suggestsa man truly involved with the sweepof our society,and given the fact that much music on the tube reachesus almost subliminally, who knows how much the tasteofthe Americanpublic hasbeen improved by suchexposure to Benny's seductivemusical backgrounds?!

Benny Golsonwas born in Philadelphiain 1929. As a youngsterhe first studiedpiano, then fell in love with the tenorsax after hearingAmett Cobb with Lionel Hampton. He was drawn to the entire tenor spectrum,from Bud Freemanand EddieMiller to Chu Berry, ColemanHawkins, and Ben Webster;this samecatholicity of viewpoint led him to appreciatethe Glenn Miller orchestra,a rare occurrencein his neighborhood.Perhaps here we seean anticipationof things to come,in that Benny's roots in the blues-basedtradition did not closehis earsand intellect to the rangeof altematives. Benny enteredHoward University in 1947,being forced to switch to clarinet,the "legit" saxophonenot thenconsidered by the powersthat be. Given that this negativeevaluation extendedto jazz itself, Benny departedafter three years; (he might take comfort in knowing that a similar attitudewas likewiseoperative at LINH at mid-century.) His professionalskills as both player and writer developedrapidly which led to associationswith Tad Dameron,Lionel Hampton, Earl Bostic, Dizzy Gllespie, Miles Davis, and JohnColtrane, as well as Blakey and Farmer-and he evendid somecharts for Benny Goodman. (One of his original tuneshits closeto home; Stablemateswas written for Herb Pomerovwhen his bis band was housedin an emnoriumnamed The Stable.)

Later, Benny's insatiablecuriosity led him to study with the composerHenry Brant, notedfor his avant-gardetechniques nonetheless rooted in a thoroughfunctional knowledgeof earlier styles. SubsequentlyBenny became an accomplishedfilm and televisioncomposer, always punctuating thar activitywith srintsas a performer.

Benny has toured SoutheastAsia for the State Department, and recently has been active in Europe and Israel. He composeda classical/jazzwork for string bass and chamberorchestra which was premiered by Rufus Reed, has written a piece for violinist Itzhak Perlman, and received a GuggenheimFellowship to work on his secondsymphony. He also has a JazzMaster's Award ftom the National Endowmentfor the Arts, and a festival of his music was presentedat Lincoln Center last March. W--r{10NAL Benng Golson,tenor sax

fames Williarns,piano

fohn Lockwood,bass

Yoron Israel, drums

James williams is a virtual tlNH family member, having graced our community with his classy presenceon numerousoccasions. Like Benny an Art Blakey alumnus,he now carries the message principally by chairing the jazz studiesprogram ar William PatersonUniversity in New Jersey. John Lockwood, a native of South Africa long residentialin Boston, is a widely-recordedbassist also no strangerto our audiences.And we welcomefor the frst time Yoron Israel, anothercurent Bostonian about whom greatthings are said

"The Henry Brant has been quoted as saying, composermust...express the senseof what being alive was like during his own time," appropriatewords on which to reflect as Benny Golson takesthe stage.

Tape recordersand camerasare not permitted due to contractual arrangements. Pleaseturn off beepersand watch alarms. Your cooperationis requested. THE SERIES

The UNH Tladitional JazzSeries began in 1979. It promotesthe enjoymentand understandingolthe arl through concertsfeaturing musiciansof rcgional, national, and intemationalpromincnce. The ptrogram representsa unique endeavorto expandinterest and honor outstardingtalent and achievement.

Musicians wishing to do so are encouraged to offer their recordings for sa.le or mail order during intemission; a brief announcementmay be made. The sponsorshave no f,naDcialinterest in such sales be)'ond offering a couJtesy service to the artists and the public_

Program Notes - Pqul Venette Productian - David Seiler 2001-2002SCHEDULE

September17r NiothDecade Encounrer-Hank Visits Clafk

October22: BennyGolson Marches On

November19: Plentyof Hom: ByronStripling

January28: Thelntimate Dimension: Fred Haas Trio

March 4: Ourof theAirwaves & Into OurHeans: Marian McPartland

April8r VintageManhattan: Peter Ecklund

OTHER SPECIALJAZZ PERFORMANCESAND EVENTS

November3: Fanily WeekendConcert, UNH JAZZ BAND and COMBOS,Dave Seiler, directihg: IINH JAZZ SINGERS,Bill Kenpster,ditecting. GraniteState Room, Memorial Ilnion Buildin1, IINH. , January 22r Harry JonesMemorial Conceft: Basiealutunus FMNK WESSrcturns to sharc hiseloquent tenor sanand copiouslibrary with th.eSeacoai Big Band,Dave Seiler, directin|. JohtrsohTheatre, Paul CreativeArts Center,UNH.

March 24: 6ala JaA Concert, DR. CI-A,RKTERRY, trumpet and Jlugelhorn $,ith te|endaryjazz bassist,My BROWNand the ANH IAZZ BAND, DaveSeiler, directing. JohnsonTheatre, Paul Creati)e Ans Center,UNIl.

For ticketscall (603)862-2290