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George Benson

George Benson is an NEA Jazz Master

Appreciated as both musician and performer by millions, George Benson has always had the duel personae of expert improviser and vibrant entertainer. He has always placed his keenly discerning art in the service of a rousing good time. Rounding out his singular approach with sly, seductive rhythm and blues, he's earned himself an impeccable reputation as one of music's most enterprising and engaging stars.

Few might have predicted that striking level of stardom some forty years ago, when Benson was a fledgling guitarist working the corner pubs of his native Pittsburgh. That's where his yen to please a crowd was born. "I was an entertainer first," he says proudly "As a kid I sang, danced and played the ukelele in a nightclub. As my career has progressed, I've had the pleasure of playing with the baddest jazz cats on the planet. But that doesn't change my desire to entertain folks. That's really who I am."

It was Wes Montgomery, one of jazz's most creative players, who came across Benson early on; the vet complimented the young guitarist, urging him to continue his already impressive work. In the early 1960s, Benson apprenticed with organist Brother Jack McDuff; he found the organist's gritty swing a fertile ground for the sly, confident and adventurous guitar lines which earned him an early rep as a master.

"Jack turned me on to a lot of stuff," muses Benson. "A lot of the jazz tunes we played together were danceable, and that furthered my understanding of what people wanted. When jazz was danceable, it was king. The intellectual stuff that came later on - Charlie Parker and all that - turned toward a brainier sound. That was good, and I dug it. But I really like when people kick up their heels and go crazy."

Montgomery had called one of his best records Boss Guitar. Benson had both the conviction and chops to nip at his hero's heels; his 1964 debut was released as The New Boss Guitar. It lived up to its title. Benson's tone was juicy, and his blues solos sparkled with a carefully honed logic. A jaunty funk and swing aesthetic prevailed. By the time legendary talent scout John Hammond signed Benson to Columbia, the guitarist's name was bubbling throughout the industry. His work for the label proved Hammond's hunch to be on-target: brains and flash were in perfect synch. "I'd sat down with a great blind pianist from San Francisco name Freddy Gambrel," recalls Benson. "He turned me onto some wonderful ways to get in and out of chord changes and weld harmonies together. Of course I still wanted to be like Charlie Christian, Django Reinhardt, and Hank Garland - my heroes. I've always liked the hot guitar guys."

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Liner Notes

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Born John Robert Smith on December 16, 1933 (in jny: Louisville, KY), formerly known as Johnny Hammond Smith, and later as Johnnny Hammond, one of the all-time best jazz organists passed away on June 4, 1997, in jny: Chicago, Illinois. For some of his early fans, some of the best albums he recorded were done for Prestige in the Sixties. A younger generation, who grew up listening to the hip-hop influenced jazz sounds of the 1990s, prefers Johnny's over-produced sessions ...

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Liner Notes

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Album Review

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Live Review

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In Pictures

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Live Review

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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: George Benson

Jazz Musician of the Day: George Benson

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating George Benson's birthday today!

Appreciated as both musician and performer by millions, George Benson has always had the duel personae of expert improviser and vibrant entertainer. He has always placed his keenly discerning art in the service of a rousing good time. Rounding out his singular approach with sly, seductive rhythm and blues, he's earned himself an impeccable reputation as one of music's most enterprising and engaging stars. Few might have predicted that striking level ...

1

Performance / Tour

Legendary Guitarist and Jazz Master George Benson Performs On New Jersey Performing Arts Center Stage June 2nd

Legendary Guitarist and Jazz Master George Benson Performs On New Jersey Performing Arts Center Stage June 2nd

Source: AMT Public Relations

Friday, June 2, 2023 at 8:00 p.m. ET George Benson is simply one of the greatest guitarists in jazz history,” writes music critic Richard S. Ginell, yet jazz guitar is only the beginning for George. A relentless shapeshifter, he’s equally imaginative playing pop, R&B and soul—and equally talented as a vocalist, composer and songwriter. No fan will want to miss this evening with the NEA Jazz Master, 10-time GRAMMY winner and creator of too-many-to-count albums. Now in the seventh decade ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: George Benson

Jazz Musician of the Day: George Benson

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating George Benson's birthday today!

Appreciated as both musician and performer by millions, George Benson has always had the duel personae of expert improviser and vibrant entertainer. He has always placed his keenly discerning art in the service of a rousing good time. Rounding out his singular approach with sly, seductive rhythm and blues, he's earned himself an impeccable reputation as one of music's most enterprising and engaging stars. Few might have predicted that striking level ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: George Benson

Jazz Musician of the Day: George Benson

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating George Benson's birthday today!

Appreciated as both musician and performer by millions, George Benson has always had the duel personae of expert improviser and vibrant entertainer. He has always placed his keenly discerning art in the service of a rousing good time. Rounding out his singular approach with sly, seductive rhythm and blues, he's earned himself an impeccable reputation as one of music's most enterprising and engaging stars. Few might have predicted that striking level ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: George Benson

Jazz Musician of the Day: George Benson

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating George Benson's birthday today!

Appreciated as both musician and performer by millions, George Benson has always had the duel personae of expert improviser and vibrant entertainer. He has always placed his keenly discerning art in the service of a rousing good time. Rounding out his singular approach with sly, seductive rhythm and blues, he's earned himself an impeccable reputation as one of music's most enterprising and engaging stars. Few might have predicted that striking level ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: George Benson

Jazz Musician of the Day: George Benson

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating George Benson's birthday today!

Appreciated as both musician and performer by millions, George Benson has always had the duel personae of expert improviser and vibrant entertainer. He has always placed his keenly discerning art in the service of a rousing good time. Rounding out his singular approach with sly, seductive rhythm and blues, he\'s earned himself an impeccable reputation as one of music\'s most enterprising and engaging stars... Read more.

Place our Musician of the ...

3

Festival

Lineup Announced For 2019 CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival 18th Edition

Lineup Announced For 2019 CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival 18th Edition

Source: Dalmath Associates Inc.

Producers John Nugent and Marc Iacona today announced the full lineup for the 2019 nine-day CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival. Now in its 18th year, the festival will be held June 21 to 29 and present more than 320+ shows including a record 100+ free shows and 1500+ artists from around the world performing in 20 diverse venues in downtown Rochester, New York. Headlining this year's festival are George Benson, Steve Gadd Band, Patti LaBelle, Jeff Goldblum & the Mildred ...

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Music Industry

Mascot Label Group announces signing of jazz legend George Benson

Mascot Label Group announces signing of jazz legend George Benson

Source: All About Jazz

Mascot Label Group/Provogue are thrilled to announce the signing of soul and jazz guitar legend George Benson, with a new album scheduled for a Spring 2019 release. The 10 time Grammy Award winner and NEA Jazz Master is one of the greatest guitarists in jazz history and has released 35 studio albums, including the multi-platinum Billboard #1 Breezin. He has also had a string of hits to his name including “Give Me The Night", “Never Give Up On A Good ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: George Benson

Jazz Musician of the Day: George Benson

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating George Benson's birthday today!

Appreciated as both musician and performer by millions, George Benson has always had the duel personae of expert improviser and vibrant entertainer. He has always placed his keenly discerning art in the service of a rousing good time. Rounding out his singular approach with sly, seductive rhythm and blues, he\'s earned himself an impeccable reputation as one of music\'s most enterprising and engaging stars... Read more.

Place our Musician of the ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: George Benson

Jazz Musician of the Day: George Benson

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating George Benson's birthday today!

Appreciated as both musician and performer by millions, George Benson has always had the duel personae of expert improviser and vibrant entertainer. He has always placed his keenly discerning art in the service of a rousing good time. Rounding out his singular approach with sly, seductive rhythm and blues, he\'s earned himself an impeccable reputation as one of music\'s most enterprising and engaging stars... Read more.

Place our Musician of the ...

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