George Benson
Wikimp3 information about the music of George Benson. On our website we have 70 albums and 70 collections of artist George Benson. You can find useful information and download songs of this artist. We also know that George Benson represents Jazz genres.
Biography
[Edit]George Benson is simply one of the greatest guitarists in jazz history, but he is also an amazingly versatile musician, and that frustrates to no end critics who would paint him into a narrow bop box. He can play in just about any style — from swing to bop to R&B to pop — with supreme taste, a beautiful rounded tone, terrific speed, a marvelous sense of logic in building solos, and, always, an unquenchable urge to swing. His inspirations may have been Charlie Christian and Wes Montgomery — and he can do dead-on impressions of both — but his style is completely his own. Not only can he play lead brilliantly, he is also one of the best rhythm guitarists around, supportive to soloists and a dangerous swinger, particularly in a soul-jazz format. Yet Benson can also sing in a lush, soulful tenor with mannerisms similar to those of Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway, and it is his voice that has proved to be more marketable to the public than his guitar. Benson is the guitar-playing equivalent of Nat King Cole — a fantastic pianist whose smooth way with a pop vocal eventually eclipsed his instrumental prowess in the marketplace — but unlike Cole, Benson has been granted enough time after his fling with the pop charts to reaffirm his jazz guitar credentials, which he still does at his concerts.
Benson actually started out professionally as a singer, performing in nightclubs at eight, recording four sides for RCA's X label in 1954, forming a rock band at 17 while using a guitar that his stepfather made for him. Exposure to records by Christian, Montgomery, and Charlie Parker got him interested in jazz, and by 1962, the teenaged Benson was playing in Brother Jack McDuff's band. After forming his own group in 1965, Benson became another of talent scout John Hammond's major discoveries, recording two highly regarded albums of soul-jazz and hard bop for Columbia and turning up on several records by others, including Miles Davis' Miles in the Sky. He switched to Verve in 1967, and, shortly after the death of Montgomery in June 1968, producer Creed Taylor began recording Benson with larger ensembles on A&M (1968-1969) and big groups and all-star combos on CTI (1971-1976).
While the A&M and CTI albums certainly earned their keep and made Benson a guitar star in the jazz world, the mass market didn't catch on until he began to emphasize vocals after signing with Warner Bros. in 1976. His first album for Warner Bros., Breezin', became a Top Ten hit on the strength of its sole vocal track, "This Masquerade," and this led to a string of hit albums in an R&B-flavored pop mode, culminating with the Quincy Jones-produced Give Me the Night. As the '80s wore on, though, Benson's albums became riddled with commercial formulas and inferior material, with his guitar almost entirely relegated to the background. Perhaps aware of the futility of chasing the charts (after all, "This Masquerade" was a lucky accident), Benson reversed his field late in the '80s to record a fine album of standards, Tenderly, and another with the Basie band, his guitar now featured more prominently. His pop-flavored work also improved noticeably in the '90s. Benson retains the ability to spring surprises on his fans and critics, like his dazzlingly idiomatic TV appearance and subsequent record date with Benny Goodman in 1975 in honor of John Hammond, and his awesome command of the moment at several Playboy Jazz Festivals in the '80s. His latter-day recordings include the 1998 effort Standing Together, 2000's Absolute Benson, 2001's All Blues, and 2004's Irreplaceable. Three songs from 2006's Givin' It Up, recorded with Al Jarreau, were nominated for Grammy Awards in separate categories.
Benson began to see numerous reissues of his catalog material from his years with producer Creed Taylor on Verve, A&M, and CTI, from 2008 on. In 2009, he signed to Concord and released Songs and Stories for the label, and followed it up with his first primarily instrumental album in 35 years entitled Guitar Man in 2011. Two years later, in 2013, Benson released Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole, featuring arrangements by Nelson Riddle and Randy Waldman, and at the age of 70, it was one of Benson's finest albums. ~ Richard S. Ginell & Steve Leggett, Rovi
Title: Beyond the Blue Horizon (CTI Records 40th Anniversary Edition) [Remastered]
Artist: George Benson
Genre: Jazz
Title: Breezin'
Artist: George Benson
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, Crossover Jazz, Rock, Pop, Smooth Jazz
Title: Turn Your Love Around - Single
Artist: George Benson
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Jazz, Crossover Jazz
Title: Les Incontournables: Guitare (CD2)
Artist: George Benson, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass
Genre: Jazz, Contemporary Jazz
Title: Les Incontournables: Guitare (CD3)
Artist: George Benson, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass
Genre: Jazz, Contemporary Jazz
Title: The Best of George Benson Live
Artist: George Benson
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, Crossover Jazz, Smooth Jazz
Title: Humility (Remixes) (Maxi-Single)
Artist: Gorillaz, George Benson
Genre: Electronica, Pop, Indie
Title: Rhino Hi-Five: George Benson
Artist: George Benson
Genre: Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, Crossover Jazz, Smooth Jazz
Title: 20/20
Artist: George Benson
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, Crossover Jazz, Rock, Pop, Smooth Jazz
Title: Collaboration
Artist: George Benson, Earl Klugh
Genre: Electronica, Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Blues, Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, Crossover Jazz, Dancefloor, Dance Pop, Smooth Jazz
Collections
Title: Time Life Music - Easy 80's (At This Moment) (CD1)
Genre: Pop
Title: Feelin Good (CD1)
Genre: Electronica, Jazz, Alternative Rock, Club/Dance, Pop
Title: Bebop Highlights
Genre: Jazz, Smooth Jazz
Title: The Groove Records Story. Quicksand 1954-1956 (CD1)
Genre: Rock & Roll, Rockabilly, Pop
Title: The Groove Records Story. Quicksand 1954-1956 (CD2)
Genre: Rock & Roll, Rockabilly, Pop
Title: Greatest Love Of All
Genre: Pop
Title: Jazz District Latin Jazz
Title: Jay Graydon Works
Title: Jazz District Best Of CTI
Genre: Jazz
Title: Heart Rock Vol. 6 (CD2)
Title: MOS Anthems Disco (CD3)
Genre: Hard NRG, Disco, Italo Disco, Eurodisco
Title: The Most Essential Jazz Strings
Genre: Jazz, Smooth Jazz
Title: The Love Song (CD3)
Genre: Industrial, Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Club/Dance, EBM
Title: Sound Of Jazz FM 2011
Title: Top 100 80s (CD1)
Title: Motown's Mowest Story (1971-1973)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Funk
Title: РMussical Harmony 2015 Collection (CD1)
Genre: Club/Dance, Disco House
Title: Gods Of Jazz Guitar
Genre: Jazz, Instrumental
Title: Radio Gold: Soul
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Funk
Title: Compact Disc Club: Escape (CD4: PLAIN)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Nu Jazz, Rock, Latin
Title: The Trevor Nelson Collection, Vol. 2 (CD1)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Blues
Title: Radio Hits 80's (CD1)
Genre: Dancefloor, Disco, Pop, Dance Pop
Title: When A Love Loves A Woman (CD2)
Genre: Post Disco, Hip Hop/R&B, Jazz, Funk
Title: 12 " Club Classics - Disco
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Disco, Funk
Title: Smooth Jazz Hits: The Ultimate Collection
Genre: Jazz, Smooth Jazz
Title: 100 Hits: Summer (CD4)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, New Wave, Power Pop, Pop, Ska, Alternative
Title: 12 Inch Dance: 70s Groove
Title: Monster Jazz
Genre: Contemporary Jazz
Title: Street Sounds Presents Jazz Funk Classics Vol. 1 (CD3)
Genre: Pop
Title: Smooth Jazz Does Soul
Genre: Soul, Jazz, Vocal Jazz, Smooth Jazz
Title: Funk Et Disco, Vol. 1
Genre: Dancefloor, Disco, Dance Pop, Funk
Title: The Real... Bossa Nova
Title: Funk Anthology, Vol. 2
Genre: Soul, Dancefloor, Disco, Dance Pop, Funk
Title: Romantic Collection (CD1)
Genre: Pop
Title: The Most Essential Smooth Jazz
Genre: Jazz, Smooth Jazz
Title: 100 Hits: 80s Pop
Genre: Pop
Title: Love Stories
Title: MP3. UZHGOROD. NAME Presents TOP June 2015
Genre: Eurodance, Power Pop, Club/Dance
Title: Nova - Coffret Danse (CD8)
Genre: Electronica, Hip Hop/R&B, Jazz, Rock, Reggae, Latin, Funk
Title: Summer Avto Party (CD1)
Genre: House, Dancefloor, Club/Dance, Dance Pop
Title: Guitar Dreams (My Jazz)
Genre: Contemporary Jazz
Title: Do! Jazz: Vocal And Guitar
Genre: Jazz
Title: The Legacy Of Jazz
Genre: Jazz
Title: Jellow Blues (CD2)
Title: Escape (20 Years Anniversary) (Cd2)
Genre: World Music, Pop
Title: 50 Soul Jazz Classics
Title: The Emotion Collection (Midnight Moments) (CD2)
Genre: Pop
Title: Classic Disco Box Set (CD2)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Disco, Funk
Title: Northern Soul Lost & Found - Vol. 2
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Funk
Title: Top Club 40 - October 2015 (CD4- Deep: Tropical)
Genre: Industrial, Electro, Dancefloor, Club/Dance, DJ/Remixes, Dance Pop, EBM
Title: Latin Extra Sensation (CD2)
Genre: Salsa
Title: Latest & Greatest Crooners (CD1)
Genre: Vocal Jazz, Pop, Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: Deuses Da Guitarra
Genre: Rock, Blues Rock
Title: Carwash: Disco Classics (CD2)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Disco, Funk
Title: Mega Dance Hit # 6 (CD1)
Genre: Dancefloor, Club/Dance, Dance Pop
Title: Jazz District Hard Bop
Genre: Jazz
Title: The Nations Favourite Soul (CD02)
Genre: Electronica, Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Blues, Disco, Pop, Funk
Featuring albums
Title: Knew You Were Waiting: The Best of Aretha Franklin 1980-1998
Artist: Aretha Franklin
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Rock, Punk Rock
Title: Jewels In the Crown: All-Star Duets With the Queen
Artist: Aretha Franklin
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Rock, Pop
Title: Sugar (CTI Records 40th Anniversary Edition) [Remastered]
Artist: Stanley Turrentine
Genre: Jazz
Title: Beach Music Super Collaboration
Artist: The Embers
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Jazz, Pop, Smooth Jazz
Title: More Friends - Small World Big Band, Vol. 2
Artist: Jools Holland
Genre: Jazz, Rock, Rock & Roll
Title: Jill Scott Collaborations
Artist: Jill Scott
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Soul, Jazz, Crossover Jazz, Rock
Title: Love Pages
Artist: Cafe Soul All-Stars
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, Crossover Jazz, Rock, Smooth Jazz
Title: The Best of William Goldstein
Artist: William Goldstein
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Rock, Disco, Pop
Title: Love Songs
Artist: Al Jarreau
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Jazz, Crossover Jazz, Vocal Jazz, Rock, Pop, Smooth Jazz
Title: Smooth Jazz (New Stereo Recordings by the Original Artists)
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Jazz
Title: Defected Presents House Masters - Masters At Work
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Electronica, Dancefloor
Title: Jools Holland - More Friends - Small World Big Band Volume Two
Artist: Jools Holland
Genre: Pop
Title: Prestige Profiles: Kenny Burrell (With Collector's Edition Bonus Disc)
Artist: Kenny Burrell
Genre: Jazz
Title: Cole Porter, A Great American Songwriter
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Theatre/Soundtrack, Vocal & Symphonic
Title: The Intouchables
Artist: The Intouchables (Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Genre: Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: CTI Records: The Cool Revolution - A 40th Anniversary Collection
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Jazz
Title: Remixed With Love by Joey Negro, Vol. 2 (Bonus Track Version)
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: House, Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Dancefloor, Disco, Dance Pop
Title: Defected Presents House Masters - Masters At Work, Vol. Two
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Dancefloor, Dance Pop
Title: A Deeper Love: The Best Of Aretha Franklin Disc 1
Artist: Aretha Franklin