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George Benson - Best of George Benson: The Instrumentals Audio CD

A fair review of the George Benson "Best of George Benson: The Instrumentals" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all George Benson reviews here, or go back to the George Benson tabs.

George Benson Band: George Benson
Title: Best of George Benson: The Instrumentals
Rating:
Release Date: 1997-10-28
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: My Heart Is Dancing 2: Breezin' 3: Mimosa 4: Dinorah, Dinorah 5: Being with You 6: Valdez in the Country 7: Affirmation 8: Tenderly 9: We All Remember Wes 10: Weekend in L.A. 11: That's Right

Smooth enough
. 3 1/2

Although this can seemingly be tracking Benson's decline into more gently padded, adult contemporary fare, the fact that this spans a few decades makes at least a good amount still retain looseness and feeling- particularly on late 70's and live tracks as opposed to the synthesized beat-driven smooth Jazz you will here him playing later, albeit still with noticeable soloing spark.


Terrific collection
At the time, I didn't know he made so many great instrumentals, but this CD quickly got rid of that! There's not a bad song on here, although the first five are especially enjoyable and the live version of "We All Remember Wes" was very good as well. This was one of the first George Benson CDs I bought, and it was a great pick.


Well-received gift
He loved it. This CD was a gift for a guitarist and Benson fan. .


Elevator Music
If you're looking for some jazz, don't buy this album. Don't be fooled by the reviews. This is a CD of easy-listening music. If you're looking for some jazz guitar, check out the early CDs like George Benson Cookbook or the stuff he recorded with Brother Jack McDuff. I guess this stuff is okay to put on while watering the plants, but there is no substance to this ear candy. What a waste of talent. And George QUIT SINGING YOUR GUITAR SOLOS. It's bad enough that you sing, but singing during a solo just diminishes both the singing and the guitar playing. YAWN!.


This CD Comes With Memories To Have And To Hold...
I remember the way my sister Debbie and I were 'going nuts' over this melody when it first came out in the late '70s and played the album (original platinum selling "Breezin'") over and over and over again and would repeat the track "Breezin'" quite a number of times that it must have broken our late father's turntable needle! (you remember that, don't you? And you were just too scared to tell Papa about it since he had been telling us to handle it with extra-care because the brand he used was so expensive and precious like diamonds!) Listening to this CD brings back a lot of memories and it's like being on a 'sentimental journey' to the past with my sister. In my opinion, "Breezin'" is the ultimate and the most precious of all George Benson's gems, and the most stunning track on this compilation CD.

"Breezin'" was the first album that got me hooked with the music of Mr. Benson. My sister and I collected most of his earliest albums. My sister stopped collecting several years ago but I remained the 'faithful fan' to this day and continued with my collection. I always enjoy listening to his kind of music. I truly believe that he's one of the greatest and polished guitarists of all-time and an awesome vocalist as well.

A good friend of mine who has an impeccable taste in music and an extensive musical knowledge who also plays the guitar has the following reflection on our mutual favorite, George Benson, and I quote:

"George Benson is the best 'flat pick' guitarist who ever lived -- his single note sequences are better jazz than Lenny Breau, but he looked up to Lenny as the greatest all around finger style guitarist who ever lived. His "Tenderly" is the best flat picking solo of all time I'd say -- I saw George perform at a Town Hall in Bermuda in the '70s, just as "White Rabbit" LP was making him a star and his own composition "Ode To A Kudu" is the finest 'live' performance I have ever heard by any guitarist bar none. "

This compilation CD consists of some of my cherished melodies of all-time, and it's a testament of Mr. Benson's mastery of guitar. The tracks I love the most next to "Breezin'" are "Tenderly" from his 1989 album of the same title, "My Heart Is Dancing" from "Love Remembers" album in 1993, his very own composition "Weekend In L. A. " from his 1978 album of the same title, "We All Remember Wes," a Stevie Wonder-penned-bubbly- melody, Jose Feliciano's "Affirmation" from the 1979 album "Breezin'" and one of his original compositions "Mimosa" from his 1987 album "Collaboration" (with another guitar virtuoso, Earl Klugh).

This CD is a must-have and has the greatest collection of the best instrumentals ever recorded in the history of jazz. You should listen to it, and thank me for it! It's absolutely a gem!
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You can see a complete list of all George Benson discography, or go back to the George Benson tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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