Benny Golson was a monster on the tenor sax and could match up with the likes of Coltrane when it came to improvising, incredible! Now match him up with Lee Morgan, who when this album came out was 20 years of age. This album contains 10 songs but the first 6 songs are from the original recording and has the musicians listed on the album cover. The final four songs (7 to 10) are bonus tracks and from a different date and place, Paris, France on December 12, 1958. None of the musicians listed on the cover were not there accompanying Golson, it was totally a different gig (more below). The Blue Note album cover was different, image above is from the original album (United Artists), which cannot be purchased. Enjoy this great rare album, a must have!
About the Album:
The title of this 1998 CD reissue is a little inaccurate. This set does have a six-song session with the all-Philadelphia crew of tenor saxophonist Benny Golson, trumpeter Lee Morgan, pianist Ray Bryant, bassist Percy Heath and drummer Philly Joe Jones. But there are also four numbers from a month later in which Golson and pianist Bobby Timmons are joined by a trio of Frenchmen: trumpeter Roger Guerin (who was actually the date’s leader), bassist Pierre Michelot and drummer Christian Garros. Ironically, the previous Swing LP had the equally inaccurate title of Benny Golson In Paris; the first date was actually cut in New York. In any case, the music is quite enjoyable, and the two dates match well together. Golson, Morgan and Bryant take excellent solos on three Golson tunes and one apiece by Bryant, John Lewis (“Afternoon In Paris”) and Gigi Gryce. The French session finds the band performing four numbers from the Jazz Messengers……Read More
