Free
Bomojaz | South Central PA, USA | 09/06/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The "Free" in the title of this album is not the Ornette Coleman type of free, but merely Golson's feeling that on this recording he had the "freedom" to do what he wanted without anyone else calling the shots. That is still very much in the mainstream tradition of modern jazz - hard bop style. Golson is especially fond of the lower register of the tenor and has a rolling style not unlike thunderclouds, albeit small sized ones. SOCK CHA CHA is an interesting tune: 43 bars long played with a latin rhythm except for the bridge, which is 16 bars long and played in straight 4/4. JUST IN TIME and JUST BY MYSELF are taken up tempo and they swing very nicely. The real standout on this album to these ears is pianist Tommy Flanagan who plays beautifully with quiet assurance. Ron Carter (b) and Arthur Taylor (d) round out the personnel; Taylor's drumming is ever-present but not the least bit intrusive. One or two tracks are below the others (SHADES OF STEIN is one), but a very good CD nonetheless."
This music is available in less expensive form elsewhere
Matthew Watters | Vietnam | 02/23/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The very fine quartet album entitled Free, which forms the heart of this pricey import CD, can also be found on the far cheaper two-fer sold under the title of Benny Golson with Wynton Kelly and Tommy Flanagan. See my separate review of Free under that heading ....."
Track Listings (6) - Disc #1