GEORGE BENSON — Shape of Things to Come (review)

GEORGE BENSON — Shape of Things to Come album cover Album · 1968 · Soul Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
js
“Shape of Things to Come” was George Benson’s first album with producer Creed Taylor and the A&M/CTI label after leaving Verve. Creed brought George on to the label to replace the recently departed Wes Montgomery, a guitarist that George had a lot in common with. Also on board is arranger Don Sebesky, someone who was well known for his ongoing work with Taylor. The result is an album that is somewhat commercial, but also smoking hot in places as well as creative and fresh. The salient feature of course is George’s incredible guitar chops. Easily in the all-time top ten of jazz guitarists, George is sometimes under-rated because of his pop vocal songs and the fact that he makes what he does sound so effortless. Some guitar ‘shredders’ are big on broadcasting how hard they are working, but Benson has no problem reeling off the near impossible without sounding like he has broken a sweat.

Breaking down the tunes, “Footin” is funky soul jazz boogaloo and “Face it Boy its Over” is a soul ballad. Aretha’s “Don’t Let Me Loose this Dream” has a Latin RnB horn driven drive and “Shape of Things that Are and Were” is hard bop blues. Cover tunes, “Chattanooga Choo Choo” and “last Train to Clarksville”, could have been very corny but both are rendered barely recognizable as they are transformed into more boogaloo soul jazz. One of the best tracks is the title track on which George tries out a device called the varitone that produces Les Baxter styled speeded up type effects and a doubling of the guitar sound. It also has one of the best melodies on the album and the only solo not played by Benson when organist Charles Covington takes us on a funky ride. Also worth mention is Sebesky’s exotica styled flute and strings drenched in reverb on the aforementioned “Footin”.
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