A Master Class in Playing Jazz with Saxophonist Benny Golson: a Performance of "Along Came Betty" 

"Killer Joe" , in my humble opinion, ranks right up there with Miles' "All Blues" as among the coolest Jazz compositions ever since I heard it on my copy of the Benny Golson/Art Farmer septet many years ago. It never goes out of style, and this version is terrific!! Benny is a true artist!!

The drummer is Ocie Davis; pianist Fredrick Sanders; bassist David Pulphus.

Not only does Benny play great, but he speaks beautifully.

I always thought the song was about Betty Carter. Now I know the real story.

Yeah, and think about how many styles are inspired by jazz! I actually can't think of any that isn't. I even heard like Black Metal musicians saying their had their formal foundations in jazz!

Your statement says it all, pretty much. If you've never felt jazz or understood it, you will likely never get there. It's cool. I'm sure there is music that you do dig. Like some hip cat once said...."Everything ain't for everybody".

A "SWEET CONVERSATION" ......and "ALONG CAME BEAUTY !!!!" Thanks it's so great !!

he's such a great storyteller. love him!

It is simply tension and release brother, nothing more nothing less. He's speaking to you, and you've just got to listen to him.

Bassist manhandles that thing

Thank you, Benny Golson and AHM! This is STILL my favorite composition of Benny's. I lived in Europe in the 90s and I saw Benny in a nice jazz club near the German city of Ingolstadt called, "Birdland". I don't remember everyone who was in the group, but it was at least a quintet or sextet, but I DO remember the guitarist - it was Kenny Burrell. Benny asked the audience if they would like to hear one of his compositions and immediately I yelled, "Along Came Betty", and they played it. Benny Golson and Kenny Burrell in the same group...WOW!!! Benny, if you're watching, I recently added my solo-guitar rendition of your tune on my RU-vid channel. I hope you like it...do you remember being in Ingolstadt when I saw you that night?

I love this tune and it's great to hear BG let us in on the back story. I know some folks like to do it in a latin style but I feel it so much more when it's swingin!

As Louis Armstrong was quoted, 'if you gotta ask, you'll never know'..haha. But to try to put it in a nutshell, jazz is an american artform developed originally in new orleans that is based on individual improvisation over a musical structure. The structure can be anything from a 12-bar blues, to a 32-bar jazz standard, or a song from american popular culture...or really any song! Good jazz, like all good music, requires musicians with sensitive and sympathetic ears, and a similar audience.

Anyone know kinda of neck strap he is using?

That bass player is amazing!!

Actually, I think I'd take one step further back and talk about the influence of the blues on both jazz, rock, and gospel!

Great stories...back then before 60s there was much more real clubs of jazz NO STARBUCKS OR SPORT BARS

Benny Golson! Among my favorites musicians 🎷❤

Slurring, cool playing by master composer and sax player BG! Thanks for up!

Along Came Betty Pritchett. Benny Golson: what a guy.

Great song , learned in a lot of school, the story is also unique thanks for sharing itjpascal

Well do something else

Very nice. Thanks for sharing such a great treasure.

Great Tone

Definitely a clever individual.

Not sure if I like the recording placement of him. He's right up close in both ears. Swings hard but struggling to hear Benny.

This has gotta be Benny's most diverse & interesting solo on his own tune .

Loving the bass solo in Along Came Betty!

This is great!! Thank you!

It is the best music...lol

Bad Cat baby.

+Ben Tunnicliffe Yes, that’s some fine bass playing from David Pulphus, I’m glad you found out about him. Do you know who's on piano & drums? David Pulphus' site mentions the DVD which was produced from this Master Class, but he doesn't say who the other guys are. I love the look on Benny's face as he's digging the piano solo on Along Came Betty @ about 9:41.

Such a great composition. The genius of Benny Golson...

30:51 killer Joe.

A gentleman and a fine musician....🎶🎷🎵👏

Piano player got in the way of Benny's solo in the second tune

ok, i'm going to risk everyone's wrath. i always find benny's compositions a bit odd and uninspiring. however, that always changes when i hear him playing them, and then they make perfect sense

I just love it, was dads dj when i was younger learned to enjoy good tunes.

Yes

Betty must have been something but Bobbie is even better because she shares a life with such a passionate man.

One of the great jazz composers.

I thought that was really good comping !

These guys are masters, accolades!

whose the drummer? real swingin'!

Brilliant tune and playing by Benny

Blue 'n' Boogie starts at: 17:39

who's in the band? more then benny.

Le jazz est mon paradis

Muito bom

Oh Yeah.....

Awesome.

Jazz is the blues. Like Charles Mingus said "Charlie Parker was a blues player".

How can a great player forget about his whole family back home in Pennsylvania !! I'm puzzled and I always heard about this man and never met him but money is the root of all evil so he probably thought we were going to ask for it all . Never turn you back on your family because at the end you have to be judged by the almighty for your sins !! A man we never met sad.