-
Great Live Moments - Hilton Ruiz
April 30, 2008. Posted by Joshua Jackson.
Add new comment | Filed under: benefit, benny golson, bourbon street, clifford, dizzy gillespie, hilton ruiz, hometown, hurricane katrina victims, Jazz Alive, jazz ballads, Listening Post, Live Music, lyrics, new orleans, performance studio, wbgo
So how can we say something so real has really gone away?
I hear him now, I always will
Believe me I remember Hilton still.Those are actually the lyrics to "I Remember Clifford," one of the enduring jazz ballads by Benny Golson. With one modification. The name.
It should not go unnoticed that nearly two years ago, Hilton Ruiz lay unconscious on Bourbon Street in my hometown. What particularly stings me is that he was in New Orleans working on a benefit CD for and video about Hurricane Katrina victims.It reminds me of a quote attributed to Dizzy Gillespie:
“Men have died for this music. You can’t get more serious than that.”In 1986, Hilton Ruiz played the Steinway B in our performance studio.
Listen to "I Remember Clifford" from the WBGO Archives.-Josh
© 2008 WBGO
-
Great Live Moments - Benny Golson
April 22, 2008. Posted by Joshua Jackson.
Add new comment | Filed under: american jazz, benny golson, clifford, collective hands, foremost composers, gentlemen, hero, jazz radio, jazz standards, killer joe, Listening Post, Live Music, Masters, music, radio festival, wbgoAside from being one of the foremost composers of jazz standards - "I Remember Clifford," "Whisper Not," "Stablemates," and "Killer Joe" immediately come to mind - Benny Golson is one of the real gentlemen of our music. When WBGO approached Mr. Golson for approval to post music from the American Jazz Radio Festival in 1987, here's what he said:
Please use whatever you want in whatever way you choose. WBGO has made a
hero out of me by playing my recordings over the years. Be assured, this
does not go without much appreciation. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
May all that your collective hands find to do continue to meet with certain
success always.
Benny GolsonIs this cat for real? Yes, absolutely.
Listen to Benny Golson's "Are You Real," from the WBGO Archives.
Perhaps you'll consider becoming a WBGO member. They make great live moments like this possible. Contribute now.
-Josh© 2008 WBGO








