Tenor Legacy

On this enjoyable set, veteran tenor saxophonist Benny Golson pays tribute to nine other tenors: Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, John Coltrane, Stan Getz, Zoot Sims, Ben Webster, and Don Byas. On "Body & Soul," Branford Marsalis joins Golson, three songs have James Carter making the quartet a two-tenor quintet, Harold Ashby is on four others, "Lester Leaps In" has Golson interacting with both Carter and Ashby, and Golson is the only tenor on the closing "In Memory Of." While each of the saxophonists is in fine form, Carter's fiery style is a perfect contrast to Golson's cooler but explorative playing. With pianist Geoff Keezer, bassist Dwayne Burno, and drummer Joe Farnsworth swinging the tunes (all but "In Memory Of" are standards), Golson sounds quite inspired by the settings. This is one of his strongest all-round sessions of the 1990s.