Q&A with Benny Golson

Manote Tripathi

The Nation

 Benny Golson is coming to Bangkok this week for the second time for a concert that will see him play with local artists. Now 80, Golson is a multi-talented jazz musician: a composer, arranger, lyricist, producer - and tenor saxophonist of world renown.

 A prodigious composer, with well over 300 titles to his name, Golson is the only living jazz artist to have written eight standards, tunes that have found their way into countless recordings over the years, among them "Stable Mates", "Killer Joe", "Whisper Not", "Along Came Betty" and "Are You Real?"

 He's recorded more than 30 albums in his own name and innumerable others with fellow artists.

 Besides writing scores for hit TV series and movies, Golson made a cameo appearance in the 2004 movie "The Terminal".

 "Benny Golson: The Real Jazz Live in Bangkok" is at 7.30pm on Thursday at the Aksara Theatre. Tickets cost Bt1,500 to Bt2,500 at www.ThaiTicketMajor.com.

We had a nice little chat with Golson ahead of the show.

How did you start out as a musician?

I started as a classical pianist at nine years old. For five years I practised every day, playing Mozart, Chopin and Beethoven. But when I was 14 I saw Lionel Hampton perform. I heard his saxophone and the piano was gone.

What's it like being a living legend?

Sometimes it's very embarrassing, because I don't feel like that.

Are you planning anything special for the Bangkok audience?

I have something I wrote. I was here before, maybe 12 or 15 years ago. This time I've brought some other musicians with me and we'll play with local musicians too. It'll be very nice.

Is it different playing in Asia?

Many years ago when I first went to Europe the jazz wasn't so good, but, oh, they've learned. They're getting more hip.

 When I came here the first time I didn't think about local jazz musicians. Now I'm going to play with some jazz musicians from Thailand! So it's coming!

You've just turned 80 but you're still quite active.

My age isn't a problem at all, but the travelling is. Sometimes travelling means a long, long flight.

Tell us about your 80th-birthday party.

In January at the Kennedy Centre in Washington DC they honoured me for my 80th birthday. Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg couldn't come, so they made a video and they showed it to the audience. It was a surprise - I didn't know!

And they are jazz fans. So Tom Hanks and I ended up trading e-mails.

Tell us about your appearance in the movie "The Terminal".

My office called to say, "Steven Spielberg is interested", and I said no. I told them Woody Allen called me twice but nothing ever happened.

I figured there were so many other people they could choose they probably wouldn't pick me.

 But Spielberg said, "No, only you!" So I had to go into downtown New York to do a screen test and then we shot it in Montreal, and some of it was done in California too.

I said to Spielberg, "There are so many jazz players, why'd you pick me?" He said he used to come to see me play when he was in college.

What do you think of today's music industry?

It's getting bigger. Last time I was here there was no rap and hip-hop. But it's getting bigger and that's good for the music, because not everybody likes the same thing.

What other kind of music do you like?

I like country and western. I listen to the words and sometimes they make you cry.

Any new jazz artists you like?

Jerry Weldon: His saxophone is fantastic. Nobody knows about it! We played together in Italy recently.

 Many musicians you don't know yet - maybe later - but they have to come to New York to be known.

 Jimmy Greene's saxophone is fantastic - nobody knows!

How about Kenny G?

Excuse me?

Tell us about your songwriting.

I have fun writing music. I'll think about it for two weeks before it gets done, and I keep changing the notes every day. After two weeks, if I don't change a thing, it'll be okay.

If you had to choose one song that "defines" Benny Golson, what would it be?

I don't think I've written it yet - but I keep trying.

How did you come up with "Whisper Not"?

I wrote it in Boston. I went early to where we were supposed to play and nobody was there, so I went over to the piano and wrote that song in 20 minutes.

I don't know how that happened - I just had these crazy ideas - but the song isn't that crazy.

Do you have any advice for aspiring jazz musicians?

There are no pills to help you. You must practise every day.

 When I was starting out I was just like any other kid - I went to school, came home and then I practised. I practised a little after dinner and before going to bed.

 I enjoyed other things too like going to the cinema, taking vacations, things like that, but I always had to practise. When you practise, you'll dream about tomorrow.

How many hours a day do you practise?

Sometimes just 15 minutes, but even with 15 minutes, it's important. It depends how much time I have, but I must practise every day - maybe not Sunday.

 Sometimes I don't feel like practising, but I must. I once tried to practise in bed, but it's not so good. That lasted about two minutes.