Benny Golson Group - Remembering Clifford (1998)

Benny Golson was moved by the death of bop trumpeter Clifford Brown to pen the classic "I Remember Clifford." Now presented with the opportunity to do an album in honor of his old friend, Golson assembles a sextet and presents an album that takes the idea of "I Remember Clifford," thoroughly updates it, and extends it across an hour of great music on this disc. Redoing his best-known tune as "Brown Immortal," Benny also does a remake of "Five Spot After Dark," long a set list staple. Golson's horn is pure honey, sounding every bit as wonderful at age 69 as many players would hope to be at half his age. Trading solos with tenor saxman Ron Blake, trumpeter John Swana, and pianist Mike LeDonne, Peter Washington adds fine string bass support while Joe Farnsworth pushes the beat along, kicking in all the right places and never overplaying. Tito Puente and Carlos "Patato" Valdes make guest appearances on Golson's "Tito Puente," but where Golson and company really shine are on new tracks like "Horizon Ahead" and the closer, "Ever More." These two spirited tracks show that Golson's playing is still edgy when need be and still philosophical on tracks like "Lullaby of Birdland" and the ballad "You're the First to Know." With some great music on tap, there's no level at which this album does not succeed.