Artist:The Art Farmer-Benny Golson Jazztet
Song:Killer Joe
Album:Meet the Jazztet
Of course sax player Benny Golson is one of the all time jazz greats. He has written several jazz standards including Killer Joe. He formed a band with trumpeter Art Farmer. The Art Farmer-Benny Golson Jazztet released six albums from 1960-62. Killer Joe is on this band's 1959 debut album Meet the Jazztet. Killer Joe is one of Golson's best known and most covered songs. Golson wrote Killer Joe while was in Lionel Hampton's band and it appeared on the 1954 Hampton album Flyin' Home. Golson made his debut as a leader in 1957. But he didn't record the song until he formed the band with Farmer. Golson knew Farmer from New York clubs. They approached each other about starting a band. They signed with Chess's Argo label. Meet the Jazztet was released in 1960. Musicians are Curtis Fuller on trombone, McCoy Tyner on piano, Addison Farmer (Art's brother) on bass and Lex Humphries on drums. Killer Joe would become a jazz standard. Many musicians have recorded it. But Quincy Jones' 1969 recording is the best known version. One song that is clearly based on Killer Joe is Sonny & Cher's The Beat Goes On. The Jazztet recorded four albums for Argo and two for Mercury. When they split up in 1962, Golson moved to Los Angeles to become a studio musician. Farmer formed a trio with guitarist Jim Hall and bassist Steve Swallow. Unfortunately there is no video of Golson and Farmer performing together. So here's Benny Golson with Willie Pickens on piano, Larry Gray on bass and Larry Joyce Jr. on drums performing Killer Joe 2007.
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