Whisper Not (song)

"Whisper Not" is a composition by Benny Golson. It is in a minor key^[1] and contains a shout chorus (a special chorus between the final solo and the closing head).^[2] Golson's account of writing the piece is that "I wrote it in Boston at George Wein's Storyville club when I was with Dizzy Gillespie's big band. I wrote that tune in 20 minutes."^[3] Some sources indicate that the first recording was by Gillespie,^[4] while others indicate that trumpeter Lee Morgan was first.^[5]

It quickly became popular with other musicians: Thad Jones and Morgan recorded their own versions before its composer had the chance to record it with his own group.^[6] Golson's early version was on his 1957 album Benny Golson's New York Scene.^[7] By 1960, John S. Wilson, critic at the New York Times, had labelled the song, together with another Golson composition, "I Remember Clifford", "an established part of the jazz repertory".^[1] It has been recorded by hundreds of musicians,^[8] becoming a jazz standard.^[9] Leonard Feather added lyrics, which were recorded by Anita O'Day in 1962 and later by several other prominent vocalists.^[6]

Golson remained strongly associated with the tune, and named one of his tours – the "Whisper Not Tour" – after it, half a century after its composition.^[6]

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