Along Came Betty – 2014
Mark Turner
A modern pianoless quartet explores a Benny Golson classic
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Benny Golson’s “Along Came Betty” was first recorded in 1958 by the tenor-saxophonist as part of the Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers album Moanin’.”
As with Golson’s best songs, the melody is memorable and catchy while the chord changes challeng jazz improvisers; it became a jazz standard from the start and still is today.
56 years after its debut, “Along Came Betty” was performed by tenor-saxophonist Mark Turner in a quartet with trumpeter Avishai Cohen, bassist Joe Martin, and drummer Marcus Gilmore.
There is plenty of space in the sound of Turner’s pianoless quartet which makes this version, which has fine solos from each of the musicians, unique in its own way.
-Scott Yanow
Ella Fitzgerald