On Sunday, February 16, 2025, at the Shea Center at William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey, a sextet led by tenor saxophonist Jerry Weldon presented a tribute to the Art Farmer – Benny Golson Jazztet, one of the premier ensembles to emerge during the hard bop period of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Weldon’s all star band included trumpeter Joe Magnarelli, trombonist Peter Lin, pianist George Cables, bassist Mike Karn and drummer Jerome Jennings.
Prior to the concert, at the “Sittin’ In” session, a fascinating interview of Weldon, trumpeter Joe Magnarelli and pianist George Cables was conducted by Dr. David Demsey in which the musicians spoke of their early training and encounters with Farmer and Golson during their careers.
Since his graduation from the jazz program at Rutgers University in 1981, Jerry Weldon has become an in demand leader and sideman both domestically and internationally. Just a few of the many giants with whom he has worked include Lionel Hampton, Jack McDuff, George Benson, Mel Tormé and Harry Connick, Jr. Two recent CDs under his leadership are On the Move (Doodlin’ Records) and Those Were the Days (Cellar Live).
The February 16, 2025 program in performance order:
- “Stablemates” (Benny Golson) (performed by the Jazztet but no issued recording exists); solos: Weldon, Magnarelli, Lin, Cables, Karn, Jennings.
- “Blues On Down” (Benny Golson) (from the the 1961 Jazztet album Big City Sounds, Argo 672); solos: Cables, Magnarelli, Weldon, Lin, Karn, Cables.
- “This Nearly Was Mine” (Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II) (from the 1962 Jazztet album Another Git Together, Mercury 20737/60737); solos: Weldon, Lin, Magnarelli (flugelhorn), Cables.
- “Richie’s Dilemma” (Harold Mabern) (from the 1962 Jazztet album Here and Now, Mercury 20698/60698); solos: Cables, Weldon, Jennings, Cables.
- “I Remember Clifford” (Benny Golson) (from the 1960 Jazztet album Meet the Jazztet, Argo 664); Cables intro, Magnarelli.
- “Mox Nix” (Art Farmer) (from the 1960 Jazztet album Meet the Jazztet, Argo 664); solos: Magnarelli, Lin, Weldon, Cables, Jennings.
- “Killer Joe” (Benny Golson) (from the 1960 Jazztet album Meet the Jazztet, Argo 664); solos: Lin, Magnarelli, Weldon, Cables, Karn.
Despite unpleasant weather, the concert was well-attended.
The original Jazztet was co-led by Art Farmer and tenor saxophonist Benny Golson and their debut album, Meet the Jazztet, was issued on the Chicago-based Argo label in 1960. Although the first incarnation of the Jazztet lasted only until 1962, the ensemble recorded a total of 6 highly regarded albums for Argo and Mercury Records with most of the writing from the pen of Golson. Some of the pieces in the group’s repertoire have become jazz standards including “I Remember Clifford,” “Killer Joe” and “Blues March.”
Many talented, up and coming musicians passed through the Jazztet in those early years including trombonists Curtis Fuller, Tom McIntosh and Grachan Moncur III, pianists McCoy Tyner, Cedar Walton and Harold Mabern and drummers Lex Humphries, Albert ‘Tootie’ Heath and Roy McCurdy.
In 1982, the Jazztet with Farmer, Golson and Fuller reassembled with new material, an updated musical orientation and sidemen from a new generation. The “New Jazztet,” as it was called, recorded 5 albums and one last session in 1996 under Golson’s name. All are highly recommended.
For more on the Jazztet see: The Art Farmer – Benny Golson Jazztet; Remembering Benny Golson.
Many thanks to Lynne Mueller for making this event possible.
Noal Cohen