Customer Reviews

George Benson - Absolutely Live

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I have seen George Benson roughly ten times in concert covering a period of fourteen years and would have seen him more given the opportunity. This performance is based on Benson's concert format used for over ten years, apart from the BBC Big band backing him in this concert.

This DVD perfectly captures Benson live and displays the diversity of his musical talent through Big band (Beyond The Sea etc..), jazz (Breezin etc..), pop (turn your love around etc..) and funk (Give me the night). Added bonuses include an interview with Benson, individual band member interviews and the chance to see Benson perform with Joe Sample from their 'Absolute Benson' collabaration.

It is quite obvious that the actual concert included allot more tracks that Benson usually performs, which didn't make the DVD probably due to format constraints (the only thing missing unfortunately). Hopefully, these will be available someday, but you never know.

I would conclude that this is the only visual media offering I have ever seen of George Benson that you can view on your home TV. A must if your a fan and an insight to his talent if you are inquisitive. I noticed one reviewer wasn't happy with the sound quality. Mine plays and sounds excellent and I only have nicam TV sound and a budget DVD player.

If you are a music lover, you won't regret this purchase as it's a wonderful musical experience.

I simply can not understand some other reviewers that rated this DVD with less than 5 stars.

If you like Big Bands you will see an excellent one (BBC big band) playing. Also, Benson is a great guitarrist and singer and in addition the songs were well chosen.

Listen the first song (All of Me), listen to the BIG BAND and say if I am wrong.

WARNING: For you to really appreciate this DVD employ some good audio equipment. Dont use only the loudspeakers of your TV or that cheap hometheater set. I used an amplifier connected with a monitor quality headphone (AKG K-66) and thought I was in the show live.

As a pianist and can guarantee this DVD is great.

This is an awesome concert performance - don't listen to some of the negative reviews! While George starts the concert with three vocal performances in front of the BBC Big Band, which may initially disappoint some viewers (like me) who crave his guitar playing, he soon dons the guitar in front of an electric band that includes Joe Sample. His versions of "This Masquerade" and "Breezin" are particularly powerful. I'm afraid I can't agree with some of the other reviewers that criticize his "diminished" vocal range - George's voice appears to me to be just as strong and expressive as it did when I saw him live in the 1970's. We jazz guitar lovers are very lucky - three of the five arguably best guitar players of all time (George, Pat Metheny and Lee Ritenour) are currently active and thanks to video and DVD, performances such as these can be kept forever.

After years of waiting George Benson has finally delivered what fans have always wanted a live video concert, although it falls a bit short of near perfect. This release is somewhat a mirror image of the PBS special that ran in December, which was totally unorganized. With the same show being released on DVD/VHS you get to see the concert the way it was meant to be as a performance, in order, from start to finish, instead of jumping back and forth. The concert is divided into three separate venues opening with Big Band standards, then moving into George's new material with Joe Sample and finally George's classic stuff that always make him a must see. George's chemistry with the BBC Big Band, Sample and his own band is generally without flaw. The DTS audio and video are both fresh and crisp (DVD). For those familiar with Benson's reputation in live concerts will notice missing some classic Benson interludes, his takes on Nat King Cole and Tony Bennett would have been nice to see, but given this concert was in Belfast he opts for a rendition of the classic Danny Boy which is good but pales in comparison to George's real hidden talent with the guitar. Also missing are classic Benson staples Affirmation and Love Ballad both of which sizzle live. Nevertheless, just about all of his material is here and done quite well. Thankfully this was released commercially and not left to the poorly edited PBS special to serve as an only Benson live performance. Benson fans now have an updated, not perfect but live performance and have waited too long to get it.

GEORGE BENSON. WHAT A GREAT MUSICIAN. THIS CONCERT IS A GOOD MIX OF OLD AND NEW. THE OPENING SONGS WITH THE BBC BIGBAND ARE WONDERFUL. I'D LOVE A WHOLE CONCERT OF GEORGE WITH THE BIGBAND, FLAWLESS. WE ALL LOVE THE VIRTUOSIC GUITAR, BUT I THINK WHAT REALLY SHINES HERE ARE HIS VOCALS. THE MAN IS ONE OF THE BEST SINGERS I'VE EVER HEARD. AND OF COURSE, THE TRADEMARK VOICE COPYING THE GUITAR LEAD. THERES SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY HERE, AND OF COURSE, THE HITS.

This is a project that should have been done when GB was in top form, conquering the world: the 70's. Unfortunately, it wasn't, resulting in nil 70's video output and this too-late show from 2000. It's not bad at all, and often very enjoyable, but if you're old enough to remember how this guy used to absolutely tear up the stage with his guitar pyrotechnics and incredibly soulful, soaring voice, this show might disappoint you. Age and a lot of touring/singing has taken its toll on his voice, but not to an intolerable degree. He tends to scream or slur off tough notes instead of hitting them melodiously like he used to, and his voice is raspy and harsh occasionally. He's had these tendencies as far back as the 80's though. The parts that are hardest to deal with are those on which he attempts to scat without his guitar - he just can't do it very well anymore. He needs the guitar in unison with his voice to keep him from getting silly. GB does have a quirky sense of humor, and you'll see it in this show (particularly when an older woman hops onstage and dances with him - his look of alarm is priceless!), but it doesn't serve him well when singing or scatting - it's at these moments when he seems to be just parodying himself.

For this show, he was trying very hard to please, and it shows. He sometimes tries to do a little more vocally than he's capable of, but he can still do ANYTHING he wants to on guitar. The highlight in this respect is "Danny Boy", a solo instrumental in which he emulates the sound of bagpipes on guitar. It's an amazing, virtuoso performance, reminiscent of his early days. When GB has a guitar in his hands, he's still a very dangerous man. But he spends half of the show guitar-free, as usual, which is mystifying considering his obsession with pleasing people.

The biggest downer with the first half of show are the bland, lifeless arrangements and GB's need to get warmed up. The BBC Orchestra plays without any big band fire at all. I was really disappointed for a while; the songs seemed very slow in comparison to the album versions, and everyone seemed to be just going through the motions - zero inspiration. "Beyond The Sea", for example, was pathetic, with GB's lousy vocal and the band playing as if they were in molasses. GB just doesn't work as a lead singer for a big band - he doesn't have the vocal firepower anymore. Then Joe Sample comes out for a few passionless songs from "Absolute Benson". Those tunes (except for The Ghetto, which is good) are reminiscent of his "Collaboration" album; weak, aimless melodies in the Earl Klugh fashion, with the obligatory, bland solo spots. Same overproduced junk he's been doing since the 80's. Up to this point, halfway through, with the weak performances and frequent, weird costume changes (why does he feel the need to wear a hot, snazzy suit all the time?), it looked like hope was lost.

However, GB finally turned up the heat by returning to his glory days: "This Masquerade", "Breezin" (with a great arrangement that he obviously likes to improvise to), and many of his other hits are marvelously performed. This is where the crowd gets really pumped up and comes alive, as do GB, the band, and the viewer. He sings these songs more passionately than the rest. Again, when he picks up his guitar (and stops the silly dancing and mugging), his inspiration level increases and the music sometimes catches fire. Although, I wish he'd have gotten the old group back together for this gig: Ronnie Foster, Ralph MacDonald, Harvey Mason, Phil Upchurch. With those guys, he could actually improvise, instead of just being the "star of the show" and playing the hits with a generic backing group. His group was a major key to his greatest music, and the guys playing with him at this show are okay, but seem afraid to do anything but play the chord changes. These isn't much interaction between them and GB. At least the great Stanley Banks is still with him.

The DVD quality is fine. The 5.1 sound is excellent and a blast to hear, although I thought the keyboards were mixed too low. George is WAY out front, but has sound great. The picture is good, high res, but a widescreen format for something like this puzzles me.

I think it's safe to say GB's most creative musical days, and best singing, are behind him. But it's okay; people get older. His guitar skills are unaffected. This DVD is a good show, but sort of like hearing Sinatra in his later years. He's not what he used to be, and it takes a hell of a lot of effort to get back to (or near) that level on a song-per-song basis. I think GB can do better, but this is what was released, so I'll take what I'm given.

"I'm never gonna drive my Ferrari again - not after that bug hit the windshield".
OK, there is a brief - maybe 30 seconds long - incident with a probably inebriated woman, but it's not that big a deal, folks! Benson handled the situation with class and dignity as one would expect. The music went on without interruption. And yes, these things do happen at live concerts. Some folks need to lighten up a little.
Benson is an amazing performer and this DVD shows off his incredible talent and versatility. The set list includes his biggest hit songs, and the audience is enjoying every delicious morsel of it. Who can blame them for wanting to dance? I couldn't sit still while watching it in my living room.
If you like George Benson, you will probably enjoy this concert. On the other hand, if you're the type that would toss out the Ferrari because a bug hit the windshield, this concert may not be for you.

This dvd is simply awesome. I wasn't really interested in the big band stuff on the dvd. But Benson's performances with Joe Sample are great. If you are a Benson fan, this DVD is a must for your collection.

I've been a George Benson fan for many years. This is a Great live recording that accounts for many different styles of George Benson's music. He recorded this concert over a period of a few days and the accompanying musicians changed for different styles.

This has some of the newer music as well as some of the old standards you would expect.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that the video includes a Wide Screen anamorphic video that is very well done. If you have a nice home theater, this will impress you.

The big band stuff could've been left out, although the BBC big band is pretty decent and the arrangements are great. The songs with only his band and Joe Sample are what most fans are probably going to like. The DVD includes a bit on how the film was made, some interview segments, a bio and photo gallery. The interview segments are really corny. But for any real fan this is a must own, especially with the lack of video material available for Benson fans.