Jamey Aebersold Jazz, Volume 14: Benny Golson: Book & 2 CDs

Golson curated every detail of these sessions himself, selecting the rhythm section and counting off the tunes, which means you're learning directly from the source rather than through someone else's arrangement or interpretation. The two CD tempos give intermediate and advancing players genuine flexibility to build security before tackling the standard performance speeds. These eight pieces represent some of jazz's most teachable standards: memorable enough to stay with your students, sophisticated enough to reward careful listening and repeated study.

These are tunes that sit somewhere between earthy funk and lyrical introspection. Some swing hard (Killer Joe); others unfold with blues-soaked simplicity (Blues March). What binds them is a melodic clarity and harmonic logic that feels inevitable once you know the tune, making them deeply satisfying to play over and over again.

This set is designed for intermediate and advanced jazz students on any instrument who want to internalize the Golson songbook with professional guidance. It works equally well for saxophonists learning the original voicings, pianists building comping vocabulary, bassists studying accompaniment patterns, or horn players adding essential standards to their repertoire.

• Study the melody on the slow-tempo CD first, then move to the standard version. Internalize the phrasing and articulation choices Golson and his band make; they reveal how these tunes breathe in authentic performance.
• Lock into the rhythm section's pocket before worrying about soloing. Notice how Patrice Rushen's comping and Ron McCurdy's timekeeping create the groove; match that feel before adding your own voice.
• Use the written changes as a learning tool, not a limit. These transcriptions document one interpretation, but explore how the harmony works and where you might find tension and release as you develop your solo.
• Play along repeatedly with both tempos. The slower version builds fundamental security with the form and changes; the standard tempo trains your ear and reflexes to match a real ensemble.

Use this as your foundation for a jazz standards unit, building repertoire that will serve students across multiple years and ensembles. The two-tempo format also makes it ideal for jam sessions or student recitals where less experienced players can step up at the slower tempo while more advanced musicians tackle the full speed.

• Intonation and phrasing over recorded rhythm sections
• Form and chord progression memorization across eight standard tunes
• Soloing vocabulary and rhythmic phrasing in hard bop style
• Listening and response to professional ensemble interaction
• Tempo flexibility and confidence at both slower and standard jazz tempos