Who is George Benson (b. 1943)?

Although his fame and what he is generally known for is as a singer, George Benson (March 22, 1943, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States) is probably the most gifted jazz guitarist of his generation, and certainly the one who has sold the most records. Benson began his musical career as a teenager, singing in clubs before he turned ten.

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At eleven, he bought his first guitar and turned to Rhythm & Blues and Rock and Roll. His journey towards jazz began when he joined organist Jack McDuff’s group in 1962. There he began listening to Wes Montgomery and Grant Green, two musicians who influenced him not only in his playing but also in his career.

In 1965, he signed a contract with Columbia, where he recorded virtually nothing of interest. The following year, he switched to Verve, and music producer Cred Taylor, founder of the CTI label, saw him as the ideal replacement for maestro Wes Montgomery.

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He worked for some time with organist Jimmie Smith and, in the 1990s, signed a contract with CTI. Funk and soul took center stage in this new musical phase, achieving a magnificent recording with the album “Beyond Blues Horizon” in 1971. And finally, came spectacular success with the most recorded and best-selling jazz album in history for the Warner Bros. label, entitled Brezzin’. By 1975, he had played with Benny Goodman himself, and his career continued to flourish in every setting, attracting countless fans.

Breezin’ · George Benson

The guitarist, George Benson comes and goes through the world of music, playing a mixture of commercial pop and jazz. When the last facet appears, he records magnificent albums like this Breezi’n whose theme ‘This Masquerade’ turned the world and almost turns it into the most listened to jazz theme to date.

Arranger: Claus Ogerman Conductor: Claus Ogerman Lead Guitar: George Benson Lead Vocals: George Benson Drums: Harvey Mason Acoustic Piano: Jorge Dalto Bass Guitar: Phil Upchurch Rhythm Guitar: Phil Upchurch Percussion: Ralph MacDonald Electric Piano: Ronnie Foster Synthesizer: Ronnie Foster Bass Guitar: Stanley Banks Producer: Tommy Lipuma Writer: Bobby Womack

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George Benson – Beyond The Blue Horizon (1971) Part 1 (Full Album)

Track List: 1. So What (0:00) 2. The Gentle Rain (9:18)

George Benson – Beyond The Blue Horizon (1971) Part 2 (Full Album)

Track List: 3. All Clear (0:00) 4. Ode To A Kudu (5:26) 5. Somewhere In The East (9:12)

Beyond the Blue Horizon, Allmusic Review by Richard S. Ginell: Having taken Benson along with him when he founded CTI, Creed Taylor merely leaves the guitarist alone with a small group on his first release. The payoff is a superb jazz session where Benson rises to the challenge of the turbulent rhythm section of Jack DeJohnette and Ron Carter, with Clarence Palmer ably manning the organ. Benson is clearly as much at home with DeJohnette’s advanced playing as he was in soul/jazz (after all, he did play on some Miles Davis sessions a few years before), and his tone is edgier, with more bite, than it had been for a while.

The lyrical Benson is also on eloquent display in “Ode to a Kudu” (heard twice on the CD, as is “All Clear”), and there is even a somewhat experimental tilt toward Afro-Cuban-Indian rhythms in “Somewhere to the East.” A must-hear for all aficionados of Benson’s guitar.

Personnel:

George Benson – guitar Clarence Palmer – Hammond organ Ron Carter – double bass, electric cello Jack DeJohnette – drums Michael Cameron – percussion Albert Nicholson – percussion Technical: Rudy Van Gelder – engineering Bob Ciano – album design Chuck Stewart – photography Pete Turner – photography.