Benny Golson has made many excellent recordings over the decades, but
One Day, Forever is in a class by itself.
Golson was inspired to write the striking title track following the death of
Art Farmer's wife
Mechthilde, and he later added a poignant lyric.
Shirley Horn's exquisite vocal on this lush
ballad is backed by a string section of 12 cellos plus a flute and a pair of French horns conducted by the leader; it also includes
Golson's soulful tenor sax and a first-rate rhythm section of
Mulgrew Miller,
Ron Carter, and
Carl Allen. Probably to achieve the exact sound
Golson had in mind,
Farmer temporarily sets down the flumpet (a custom-made hybrid of the trumpet and fluegelhorn that he played almost exclusively from 1992 until his death) and adds his trumpet to six tracks, including the snappy
"Blue Walk"; he plays his muted horn in a strutting remake of
Golson's well-known
"Killer Joe" and rekindles the old
Jazztet fires with
Golson and trombonist
Curtis Fuller on the driving
"Blues Alley." The rhythm section supporting this group includes pianist
Geoff Keezer (who had previously worked with
Farmer), bassist
Dwayne Burno, and drummer
Joe Farnsworth. The final track,
"On Gossamer Wings," is a
classical piece composed by
Golson and performed by pianist
Lara Downes; this intriguing work for solo piano provides a emotional conclusion to a wide-ranging and highly recommended CD. ~ Ken Dryden
