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Originally Posted by Chrome Dome
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10-02-2021 03:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Chrome Dome
Listen to Weekend in LA…great record.
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Originally Posted by Donplaysguitar
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It wouldn't surprise me. He'd been a singer since he was a kid.
Obviously This Masquerade was a game changer for him though. His singing career was under the radar prior to that, but he was quite popular as a guitarist ("popular" in the jazz sense, that is).
I also understand the above comment about him being too mellow. While not exactly accurate, it is true that many studio recordings are more.... controlled, because they are a product for sale and need to be tidy and possess high quality, and will stand for all time.
But live playing? Players tend to let their hair down much more when playing live, as that clip of Take Five at the 1986 Montreux Jazz Festival clearly demonstrates.
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George Benson has something that very few have. Along with his mega talant, he has a huge stage presence. He has Star power! It's really what has lead him to such a great career.
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Originally Posted by skiboyny
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Benson is great. Great playing, great tone, great singing and great music.
He's an inspiration. That's all I have to say about that.
I especially like to play this one (written by Jimmy Smith, made to perfection by George). Give it a try!
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Let me just add one thing…GB is clearly the best looking guitarist (male) ever to play jazz guitar (though John McLaughlin wasn’t too shabby looking either back in the day). Or maybe guitar in any genre.
Most guitarists play guitar cause they can’t sing, and the only way they can attract a lady is by strapping a large phallic instrument onto their bodies. You’ve got the Nordic god out front, and the guitar guy in the shadows smoking and strumming and looking creepy with his guitar slung crotch high.
Of course jazz guys are different. There is a certain earnest nerdiness to their image, which does appeal to the librarian set. Not putting down Barney Kessel or Joe Pass, you know, but GB is on a different level.
He might have swung pretty hard back in the day, but he has been married to the same lady since 1962, and has 7 children. (I guess she Gave Him the Night quite often over the years.) And never succumbed to drug or alcohol abuse. Which is also unusual for a guitarist.
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Interesting quote from someone you may have heard of:
yes, george has come to see me play - and yes, i was stunned. he is one of the greatest musicians to ever address the guitar as a serious jazz instrument - and he certainly is one of the major forces in the evolution of what is possible to do with the ax. his sound, his tone, the way that he plays with the drums are all just fantastic. he is someone that i always make a point of going to hear if we are on the same festival or something. besides all that, i know there are people who moan about the fact that he sings so much - but, i love his singing almost as much or more than i love his guitar playing. i guess, you can see - i am a big fan. as far as playing together goes - i think i would just let him have it, and go off to the audience and enjoy the master - then go home and practice picking all night long!
Pat Metheny (Pat Metheny : Question & Answer)
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Originally Posted by Doctor Jeff
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Originally Posted by vernon
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Originally Posted by ArchtopHeaven
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Originally Posted by Litterick
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Originally Posted by Doctor Jeff
Baden Powell was a guitar genius:
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Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop
I would say Sasha was very good-looking and had a good career and a lot of luck with the ladies. He dated Bridgit Bardotte and Dione Warwick, not too shabby.
Baden Powell wrote Samba Triste--I did not know that. Will have to explore his recordings some more.
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George playing Impressions
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Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop
How about that Casa Caribe bootleg thing that’s been around for ages, it’s basically George playing standards:
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Originally Posted by grahambop
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If you haven't already seen it, this history of GB's guitars is well done (apropos to another thread, shows him with a Les Paul when playing with Jack McDuff):
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George Benson is an outstanding musician. Period. Personally, I'm not a fan of his Jazz style since it is too busy--the same reason I don't listen to Pat Martino, Bruce Forman . . . however, this does not discredit, for me, his considerable talent. So, a few givens:
1. An artist is judged by his work. Period. He has devoted his life to music performance.
2. George survived the death of Jazz/live music in the late 70's/early 80's and made millions playing pop music which resulted in much jealousy among many members of the Jazz community for his success. When I lived in Chicago during that time, and later, he was not played on any of the Jazz stations and he was frequently called a "sellout."
3. He has played with most of the "greats" throughout his life and should be remembered for his prodigious contributions to Jazz and
Pop music and as a creative musician.
Play live . . . Marinero
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Originally Posted by Marinero
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Another nice Benson track:
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Thanks Dirk.....
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Originally Posted by wintermoon
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yes thanks Dirk!
(Not sure why my post with the list of GB good things got cut. Collateral damage?!)
Barry Harris / Oliver Nelson - Dom7/Diminished,...
Today, 03:11 PM in Improvisation