George Benson's Guitar early 70's

[Archie]

Ah Benson, the finest guitarist that ever lived! Sorry django, sorry Joe, sorry Wes, sorry Hank.

Thats not a personal opinion, it is simply a matter of fact

[robertoart]

George sounds great playing any guitar! That said the tone on the Breezin record w/ the Johnny Smith is the one that speaks to me. But remember it's the magician not the wand that counts most of all.

In Flight is simply gorgeous too. I think that's the one directly after Breezing.

[Jimmy Mack]

I have to agree, for several reasons. Tone, fluidity, versatility, longevity, and the excellence of his mastery in playing in different styles. Over many years. And may I add, exceptional musicality. Just listen to "Ode to A Kudu". The studio version, as a contrast to all the other great recordings, on his own, and as a sideman, like the Stanley Turrentine recordings.

Too many to list!

[robertoart]

I've been working on that clip for a couple of years now and have transcribed most of it.....not written down though.

GB has an intimate knowledge of the Melodic Minor scale even if he doesn't call it that. All those fast runs are MM a semitone above the the relevant dominant.

There is one lick that he plays effortlessly at 37 secs in the above version which is a little 11 V and it's not hard to figure out but freakishly difficult to play and maintain his groove.

Revealingly....it's much easier to play if you adopt his right hand tech. Then those kind of things become possible.

Actually Dirk (from this site) sent out a link to the head of this tune recently so it's here somewhere.

Here it is George Benson & Tap Dancer Jimmy Slyde | Video + Tabs

Thanks for sharing this information. I have always wanted to learn and study this performance. Your knowledge will help a lot. And thanks to this site for sharing the head arrangement as well.

[whiskey02]

Looks like he had a D'Angelico around that time as well, this would have been a year after Beyond the Blue Horizon, but his album from that year, White Rabbit is a very similar sound

I don't know a single thing in the world about "Tap", but I'm guessing that guy is….the GB of tap dancing? Very impressive.

[HeyNow]

I have never seen GB with a Guild in a YT video, either. I have seen pictures of him with a Guild Artist Award, the picture with the link above of an X-500, and the album cover with the X-175. I bought a new X-175 back in 1976 which I still have. The cover of "The Other Side of Abbey Road" definitely influenced my decision. At the time there was also a used Guild Artist Award at another store for sale at $999, but that was a little too much for a college student's budget.

I think the X-175 is one of, if not the, best deals on archtops out there. My '78 is heavy and acoustically is not anything special, but plugged-in it brings smiles. Perfect blend of punch and chime. Neck is not muddy at all. Woodier fundamental than PAFs. The heavy build gives it a lot of sustain.

The finish on the neck and neck binding of mine is almost gone from play wear. You know the good ones usually get played.

[medblues]

Not 70s but 60s, and I don't know if it was posted before:

[Roget]

I also saw Benson in 1975 at the Colonial Tavern in Toronto. Probably the same gig. He was playing a lot of the music from the upcoming 'Breezin' album which was released in 76' and would catapult him into stardom. It was a fantastic display of naturally gifted virtuosity. He was a very nice guy. As he was casually changing strings on a table between sets I found the courage to approach him. I was probably way over the top with adulation. George said,"I am just a guitar player like you"(I wish that were true).

Afterward,on the same night, I went over to Georges' Bourbon St and heard the Jim Hall Trio which had been playing there all week. This gig resulted in the great Jim Hall Live Album. I talked to Jim Hall,told him I just saw Benson. He said in his understated way,"Great hands".

That is a night that made a lasting impression on me. Two great guitar players with very different styles,sounds and approaches to playing.
I am also pretty sure George was playing the D'Angelico.

[David B]

I don't know a single thing in the world about "Tap", but I'm guessing that guy is….the GB of tap dancing? Very impressive.

Here's Jimmy Slyde a couple of decades later, backed by Bucky Pizzarelli.

[2bornot2bop]

Never heard this album. On a Guild AA!

[Doctor Jeff]

This is Benson's JS he used on Breezin', displayed at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix. Highly recommended pilgrimage for those who love music.

[Doctor Jeff]

I am resurrecting this thread because I have listened to the Blue Horizon album a couple of times today. It just blows me away. The intensity of his playing plus his tone...especially on Somewhere in the East (alternate take).

People above seem to think he was playing a Guild on that session. The woody tone he gets on that cut is very different from his usual.

There was a fair amount of discussion about Creed Taylor recently. He produced this session, but according to George didn't have much money, so it was "bare bones"--just great musicians (Ron Carter, Jack deJohnette, Clarence Palmer). It was engineered by Rudy van Gelder.

This is IMO the best cut from a great record.