GEORGE BENSON — Guitar Man (review)

GEORGE BENSON — Guitar Man album cover Album · 2011 · Pop/Art Song/Folk Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
js
Its no big surprise that George Benon’s new CD falls into the general pop-jazz category as he has been turning out quality popular jazz for many decades, but if you are thinking this is some sort of cookie cutter homogeneous smooth jazz album where all the tracks sound the same, you couldn’t be more wrong. In a lot of ways this album is a throwback to the 60s when artists like Ramsey Lewis, Wes Montgomery and Herbie Mann would put out interesting and eclectic instrumental records with inventive versions of current pop songs as well as classics. On “Guitar Man”, that sort of eclectic spirit returns with covers of songs from the party standard, “Tequila”, to Coltrane’s spiritual “Naima”. Combining such disparate musical ideas may sound tacky or superficial, but Benson’s new album holds up well with a strong sense of integrity tied together with very tasteful arrangements and Benson’s always brilliant guitar work.

One track that may exemplify what is best about this album is an unlikely cover of “I Want to Hold Your Hand”. Orchestrated with a small combo and subtle strings, the well worn old Beatles classic is barely recognizable as the melody is slowed and given extra slinky modern syncopations and every chord is extended or substituted to likewise present a more modern sound. Towards the end of the song Benson presents a sly figure in the strings that almost sounds like his classic, “Breezin”.

Although some songs on here have an almost “smooth jazz” sound, producer John Burk avoids the sort of heavy-handed compression and reverb that makes a lot of modern jazz sound artificial. Generally the sound on “Guitar Man” is a very natural live studio recording sound. Benson and crew also avoid the homogeneous boredom by varying the song’s instrumental ensembles from solo guitar, to small post-bop combo or a combo plus light orchestrations. If you’re a fan of Benson’s vocals, he also croons a couple numbers too. Overall a very tasteful and thoughtful album from one of the best jazz guitarists of all time.
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