Absolute Benson [Enhanced]

Absolute Benson [Enhanced]

ASIN: B00004SST6

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
George Benson has been threatening to record a serious guitar album for years, and he's finally done it. Absolute Benson is 99.9 percent pure jazz guitar as only this master of the instrument can produce. Recalling Benson's CTI output of the 1970s, Absolute Benson features his lyrical, logical, and often emotional playing in mellow, groove-a-licious arrangements. Taking a cue from Santana and Louie Vega (who produced a couple of tracks here), Benson starts off AB with the percolating Latin bump of Donny Hathaway's "The Ghetto" and its companion piece, "El Barrio." Benson does scat and sing here, but after his smooth crooning and Joe Sample's funky electric piano, Benson's nimble fingers take flight and never touch down. AB includes the blistering burn of "El Barrio," the burnished tones and smooth Brazilian swing of "Jazzenco," the Wes Montgomery-style chordal work of "Deeper Than You Think," the bittersweet jazz waltz "One on One," the cosmopolitan "Hipping the Hop," and the deep-funk closer "Medicine Man." AB is commercial, so don't expect any burning hard bop or samba madness. But Benson's guitar work is so liquid and gorgeous, it's simply wonderful to hear him cut loose and really play with musicians--Ricky Petersen, Steve Gadd, Luis Conte, Christian McBride--who know how to work the edges of the soul-jazz groove. --Ken Micallef

Product Description
Mostly an instrumental record of new standards and rare favorites. This import edition adds one bonus track, 'El Barrio' (Masters At Work Remix)' also includes an enhanced cd component featuring assorted photographs & exclusive filmed studio footage unavailable elsewhere. 2000 release. Standard jewel case. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Absolute Benson,George Benson,Grp Records,Contemporary Jazz,Crossover Jazz,Jazz,Jazz Music,Jazz-Pop,Pop,Smooth Jazz,Urban

Average customer rating:

One of his absolute best albums

Extra, Extra, Audiophile's Number One Song Ever is Give me the night!!!

My first jazz CD

Buy this CD? ABSOLUTELY!!!!!

It's not bad but it could be better.

Absolute Benson
George Benson
Manufacturer: Grp Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
General | Pop | Styles | Music
General | R&B | Styles | Music
GRP | Verve Music Group | Specialty Stores | Music
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ASIN: B00004SST6
Release Date: 2000-05-23

Tracks:

The Ghetto
El Barrio
Jazzenco
Deeper Than You Think
One On One
Hipping The Hop
Lately
Come Back Baby
Medicine Man

Amazon.com

George Benson has been threatening to record a serious guitar album for years, and he's finally done it. Absolute Benson is 99.9 percent pure jazz guitar as only this master of the instrument can produce. Recalling Benson's CTI output of the 1970s, Absolute Benson features his lyrical, logical, and often emotional playing in mellow, groove-a-licious arrangements. Taking a cue from Santana and Louie Vega (who produced a couple of tracks here), Benson starts off AB with the percolating Latin bump of Donny Hathaway's "The Ghetto" and its companion piece, "El Barrio." Benson does scat and sing here, but after his smooth crooning and Joe Sample's funky electric piano, Benson's nimble fingers take flight and never touch down. AB includes the blistering burn of "El Barrio," the burnished tones and smooth Brazilian swing of "Jazzenco," the Wes Montgomery-style chordal work of "Deeper Than You Think," the bittersweet jazz waltz "One on One," the cosmopolitan "Hipping the Hop," and the deep-funk closer "Medicine Man." AB is commercial, so don't expect any burning hard bop or samba madness. But Benson's guitar work is so liquid and gorgeous, it's simply wonderful to hear him cut loose and really play with musicians--Ricky Petersen, Steve Gadd, Luis Conte, Christian McBride--who know how to work the edges of the soul-jazz groove. --Ken Micallef

Album Description

Mostly an instrumental record of new standards and rare favorites. This import edition adds one bonus track, 'El Barrio' (Masters At Work Remix)' also includes an enhanced cd component featuring assorted photographs & exclusive filmed studio footage unavailable elsewhere. 2000 release. Standard jewel case.

Album Details

Includes the Bonus Track 'El Barrio (Masters at Work Remix)'.

Customer Reviews:

One of his absolute best albums.......2006-11-02

Buy this album, it is timeless and the songs will remind you of why he is the best.

Extra, Extra, Audiophile's Number One Song Ever is Give me the night!!!.......2006-10-12

First things first, a coincidence of many things?, any song by George Benson is amazing, why is this guy so dam good looking anyway, yes, I want to look like him, sing like him and arrange/compose like him (remember here it's the other word: dam with the other letter after m). But why do I have to get so personal you might ask, good looking is just the icing on the cake from this guy, but I could not help but come out tonight and say to the world about the song Give me the Night, this song is....world are you ready, the most perfectest song ever made perhaps in the entire universe if it's still applicable in this case....first question is, how can this song have the punch and crispiness in all the audible frequencies heard by humans, I have many times compared the cd version with my 12" single and you would have to maybe be in my shoes, 1970's and early 80's music guy, how can George be so bad in disco if he did it this good, remember this song is DISCO, and I say this because of the four on the floor beat and the beautiful strings arrangement, funny how it's only like three notes played by the strings, this song is the one to have an orgasm by, anyway, when I played this song on the 12" single for the first time, I knew we had something here, for all the haters giving bad reviews here about disco, here's to you, this song and just about any George Benson song the quality of the recordings are amazingly clear and Give me the Night will I think always be one of those very unique songs that have it all, yes even though it's disco, not much else to ad here, when do you get to hear the best singer in the world knowing which way you could have an orgasm, anyway...no bull haters...The best thing that happen to disco is George Benson jumping on the wagon..

My first jazz CD.......2006-01-25

Absolute Benson was the first jazz album I ever bought. I was searching for jazz guitar and didn't know where to start. The store seller told me that Benson was a great guitarrsit, so I pick it up and take it to my home.

I wasn't disspointed, the seller recommendation was great. Every track had something special, a fusion or rythms that hooked me and keep me listening the album for an entire week. Benson playing was great, his soloing style was jawdropping, considering it was my first approach to jazz. Now I know he didn't played jazz in his pure form (like Tal Farlow) but it has a perfect balance between the old and new stuff.

A great CD if you want to listen a great and versatile jazz guitarrist with an special vocal hability to sing what he plays. I would also recommend Breezing in addition to this one to hear George Benson playing in a more traditional style.

Buy this CD? ABSOLUTELY!!!!!.......2004-02-22

This is one of George's best CD's to date! He's still the smoothest there is ! People need to just get over the fact that he's so talented he has the widest fan base of any jazz artist ever! He can sing. That's why he has an added dimension in his soloing with the guitar. His guitar literally sings and scats! I'm tired of these so called jazz purists tripping over the fact that he's got a great voice and has fans that appreciate it as well. Back to this album.
I absolutely loved this whole album and can't wait for the next. If you have a chance to get the DVD be sure to because he does most of these cuts live and he really cuts loose. He and Joe Sample said they waited 30 years to work together! Joe Sample stated, and I quote " I don't think people understand, that George Benson is and INCREDIBLE guitarist!"
I think that should be the name of his next album. "INCREDIBLE BENSON!"

It's not bad but it could be better........2003-07-26

My only opinion about George Benson is that he is singing more than he can play. I want to see him in a concert, but some people
told that is boring, because he is singing the whole time. He must do more with his Gibson than with his mouth!!!