Benny Golson Celebrates His 80th @ The Kennedy Center
Assembling a concert that celebrates a career spanning seven decades must be a daunting task. What material should be included? Should the program be more celebration or performance? While the audience will expect the classics, what of the more obscure material of which the artist might be proud? The Kennedy Center tried to balance all of these factors on Saturday night in mounting an 80th birthday celebration for legendary jazz tenorman and composer, Benny Golson.
The result was a show that was neither here, nor there. Though there were warm moments and memorable performances, they struggled to break through a night that was overly staid and formal. In retrospect, it might have been better if the organizers threw out the script and let the music speak for itself.
After a short and informative biographical film, segments of which served as an interlude throughout the evening, Golson took the stage to perform his standard, "Along Came Betty", accompanied by the ever-swinging Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. Looking even younger than the evening's host, Danny Glover, who unfortunately struggled with the teleprompter all evening, the Howard University alum played with his characteristic warm mellow tone and fluid sense of phrasing.
The jazz orchestra, which also played with Golson on the first set's closer, "Stablemates", as well as paean to Clifford Brown, "I Remember Clifford", was just one of a multitude of acts sharing the stage with Golson. Also on the bill was an all-star quintet of NEA Jazz Masters, which included pianist Cedar Walton and frequent Golson collaborator, trombonist Curtis Fuller. The New Jazztet, Golson's latest ensemble, served as a showcase for his more recent compositions. Al Jarreau also joined the group to sing "Whisper Not". Rounding out the lineup was the Uptown String Quartet, and classical pianist Lara Downes. The surprise of the evening came in the form of Dr. Bill Cosby, who was also performing at the Center. His love of jazz being well documented, one doubts that he needed to be asked twice to take a few minutes out of his set break and add some levity to the proceedings.
From a purely musical standpoint, such a breadth of talent might have seemed a good idea on paper. In practice, it led to a show that never built any momentum, or to which the audience could never become fully engaged. Downes was particularly out of place. While her reading of Golson's classical piano piece, "On Gossamer Wings", was perfectly competent, it was a distraction from the rest of the program which focused on a classic jazz sound. Likewise, the Uptown String Quartet closed the concert with a charming interpretation of "Blues March", written for Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, but one couldn't help but think a jazz jam on that classic would have been more appropriate.
The New Jazztet, however, made the price of admission worthwhile. After opening with "Grove's Groove", a mid-tempo number off Golson's latest release, New Time, New 'Tet, the band performed "Verdi's Voice". The highlight of the night's program, the piece was Inspired by the Italian opera composer. The song's haunting melody was set over a waltz, which then shifted into an easy swing to showcase bassist Buster Williams and trumpeter Eddie Henderson. This song, as well as the Chopin inspired "L'Adieu", not only presented the night's best music, but also underscored why Golson has been rightfully declared a Jazz Master. With their modern sounds, these pieces show that true masters of any art form never stop growing and exploring. That an 80-year old legend still seeks to evolve by challenging himself in this way should serve as an inspiration to us all.