Absolute Benson [Enhanced]

George Benson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 23, 2000)
• Original Release Date: May 23, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Grp Records
• ASIN: B00004SST6
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #100,679 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

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 jewelcase. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Still Cookin', October 6, 2000

By 

Kurt Harding "bon vivant" (Boerne TX) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Absolute Benson (Audio CD)

Its been years since I've bought a George Benson album. Having been a fan of his guitar virtuosity from the days of White Rabbit and Good King Bad, I was dismayed by his seemingly permanent move to the world of disco and soft jazz/soul. The teaser for Absolute Benson promised a taste of the old days once again so I was lured into buying the album. Well, it took a few listens to appreciate what George was doing here. It is not like the days of long ago, but neither is Absolute Benson like the disco pop atrocities of the late 70s-80s. That veteran producer Tommy LiPuma is here is a plus, so is the presence of keyboard master Joe Sample. As it turns out, Absolute Benson is an enjoyable mixture of jazz and blues with just enough guitar heroics to evoke the days of old, but also enough understatement to let you know that this is a new day. The album is smooth enough to play at the office, yet generates enough musical energy to make it perfect background for a party. My favorite cuts are the last two, the bluesy Come Back Baby and the George Benson-Joe Sample composition Medicine Man. If you are an old time fan who has been ambivalent about the musical path Benson has taken, its time to shake it off because he proves here that he's still cookin'.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Benson's Back And Better Than Ever....., May 26, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Absolute Benson (Audio CD)

....well, almost. This isn't a return to his be-bop roots and the great music he made in the late Sixties. However, he does demonstrate his technical excellence on Absolute Benson with some great soloing. It's almost all instrumental, but the vocals are pretty impressive too - the Donny Hathaway cover - The Ghetto - is a good example of this. Benson also covers material by Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder and Marc Antoine. Other features are the prevalent influence of Joe Sample and the involvement of Masters At Work (the best guys in the business). This will probably be popular with radio, and confirm George Benson as the doyen of smooth jazz musicians.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars One song woke me up!, June 18, 2000

By 

Edric (Warner Robins, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Absolute Benson (Audio CD)

Its a Sunday, MY day of rest and this particluar Sunday following a very long hard working Saturday where I was working as a festival organizer. I had Jazz playing from one of the Jazz music audio channels off Dish Network Satalite. And I heard this booming sound!

I was in a deep sleep and was dreaming some music only this music picked me up out of my deep sleep and grabbed my attention! I had to grab the remote, turn on the television to read the display and find out what song was playing. I already knew it was George!, but I had to get the details. The song was El Barrio!

One song so damn good and "Absolute" pure, without a doubt powerful BENSON, that as far as I am concerned, SOLD! And I am out my door within minutes and getting this CD. It is a MUST have not only if you are a Benson fan, or a music fan!

Thanks Amazon.com for offering ALL of the sound clips. If my local store in the MALL (I live in a small town) does not have this, I will order it from here ASAP. But I'll pay the Mall prices for this one. And those who know me know thats me saying a lot for any CD that I buy.