Rare And Obscure Argo Recordings (VI)

Benny Golson

Take A Number From 1 To 10

Benny Golson is already strongly established as one of the most consistently fresh and personal composer-arrangers in jazz. What this uniquely challenging album accomplishes — in addition to re-emphasizing his writing capacities — is to focus on Benny's equally individual power and warmth as a player. 

It is by far his most impressive achievement on record as a tenor saxophonist as he ranges from an unaccompanied solo to the leadership of a 10-piece band. 

When I first became particularly aware of Benny's playing in Dizzy Gillespie’s big band five years ago, I was struck by the invigorating fact that he was one of the very few of the younger players with a big, full tone and a surging lyricism. Although modern in conception, he recalled the richness of Don Byas and the sinewy linear imagination of Lucky Thompson. For a time in recent years, Benny's playing style became less distinctive. There were explosive, multi-noted passages and less concern than before with melodic improvisation.

Now, however, Benny has decided on the direction he prefers; and this album heralds not only the return of his basic, warmly lyrical style but also marks its strengthening. He hasn’t lost in any degree his adventurousness, but all elements in his work are now part of an integrated, thoroughly distinctive whole.

The format of the album is unlike any that  Benny — or any other player — has attempted before. Beginning with one instrument, Benny's, an instrument is added on each track culminating in the exciting 10-piece arrangement, Time. The idea was conceived by Benny's manager, Kay Norton, as a frame for Benny's talent as an instrumentalist as well as a composer-arranger.

"It's not a gimmick", Benny emphasizes. "I did all of these with a strong conviction and feeling, because I wanted to try them. I'd  never recorded before all by myself or with a duo or a trio. And on the last three numbers, there were several techniques I wanted to develop for the first time on records".*Nat Hentoff (liner notes)* 

A record with a gimmick – but one that's totally great, and really unique for the time! The "1 to 10" in the title is the way that the album spins out – as track 1 features Golson blowing solo tenor, track 2 features him in duet, track 3 a trio – and so on, until track 10, which features a ten-piece group! One of the best things about the record is the way it really lets you focus on Golson's tone and phrasing – as even some of the bigger group tunes have a nicely laidback feel that's really dominated by Benny's solo work – and in a way, the record's a nice bridge between the more tightly arranged Golson sessions of the late 50s, and some of his looser sides of later years. Players include Cedar Walton, Curtis Fuller, Freddy Hubbard, and Albert Heath – among ohters – and titles include the Golson originals "Little Karin", "Swing It", "The Touch", "Impromptune", and "Time", plus versions of "You're My Thrill", "Out Of This World", and "I Fall In Love Too Easily". *Dusty Groove, Inc.*

Side 1

1 - You're My Thrill

(Lane, Washington)

2 - My Heart Belongs To Daddy

(Cole Porter)

3 - The Best Thing For You Is Me

(DeSylva, Henderson, Brown)

4 - Impromptune

(Benny Golson)

5 - Little Karin

(Benny Golson)

6 - Swing It

(Benny Golson)

Side 2

7 - I Fall In Love Too Easily

(Styne, Cahn)

8 - Out Of This World

(Arlen, Mercer)

9 - The Touch

(Benny Golson)

10 - Time

(Benny Golson)

Benny Golson (tenor saxophone); Art Farmer [#10], Bernie Glow [#9, #10],

Freddie Hubbard [#5 to #7], Nick Travis [#8 to #10] (trumpets);

Willie Ruff  (French horn [#8 to #10]); Bill Elton [#8 to #10],

Curtis Fuller [#6, #7] (trombones); Hal McKusick (alto sax [#8 to #10]); 

Sol Schlinger [#8 to #10], Sahib Shihab [#7] (baritones saxes);

Cedar Walton (piano [#4 to #7]); Tommy Williams (bass [#2 to #10]);

Albert Heath (drums [#3 to #10]).

Recorded at Nola's Penthouse Sound Studio, New York City, December 13, 1960 (#1 to #4),

December 14, 1960 (tracks #5 to #7) and April 11, 1961 (#8, #9, #10).