Tag Archives: George Benson

Jack McDuff: Brother Jack at the Jazz Workshop Live!

Leave a comment

In November 1963, “Prestige” label released “Brother Jack at the Jazz Workshop Live!”, the 12 Jack McDuff album. It was recorded in October 1963, at “The Jazz Workshop” in San Francisco, and was produced by Lew Futterman and Peter Paul.

Personnel:

  • Jack McDuff – organ
  • Red Holloway – soprano and tenor saxophone
  • Harold Vick – tenor saxophone, flute
  • George Benson – guitar
  • Joe Dukes – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Jack McDuff, except where noted.

  1. Blues 1 & 8
  2. Passing Through – Charles Lloyd
  3. Dink’s Blues
  4. Grease Monkey
  5. Vas Dis
  6. Somewhere in the Night – Billy May
  7. Jive Samba – Nat Adderley

Anthony Jackson

Leave a comment

On October 19, 2025, Anthony Claiborne Jackson died aged 73. He was musician (electric bass, contrabass, guitar), bassist, regarded as “one of the masters of the instrument”. He performed live in more than 30 countries and recorded in more than 3000 sessions on more than 500 albums, with Al Di Meola, Billy Paul,  Carlos Garnett, Roberta Flack,  Patti Austin, Alex Bugnon, Michel Camilo, Jorge Dalto, Mandoki Soulmates, Will Downing, Carlos Franzetti, Jun Fukamachi, Eric Gale,  Terumasa Hino, Garland Jeffreys, Chaka Khan, Steve Khan, Tania Maria, Harvey Mason, Michel Petrucciani, Buddy Rich, Lee Ritenour, Mike Stern, Hiromi Uehara, Grover Washington Jr., Monty Alexander, Peter Allen, Gabriela Anders, Ashford & Simpson, Fahir Atakoglu, Anita Baker, Bob Baldwin, Gato Barbieri, Thereza Bazar, Jim Beard, Bee Gees, George Benson, Warren Bernhardt, Randy Bernsen, Rory Block, Perry Botkin Jr., Ralph Bowen, Till Brönner, Peabo Bryson, Jimmy Buffett, Dina Carroll, Dennis Chambers, Sandeep Chowta, John Clark, Norman Connors, Chick Corea, Hank Crawford, Randy Crawford, Lou Courtney, Eddie Daniels, Michael Davis, Rainy Davis, Eumir Deodato, Devonsquare, Paul Dresher, Ned Rothenberg, Gene Dunlap, Eliane Elias, Pee Wee Ellis, Jon Faddis, Donald Fagen, Joe Farrell, Rachelle Ferrell, Barry Finnerty, Sonny Fortune, Hiroshi Fukumura, Four Tops, Henry Gaffney, Carlos Garnett, Stephane Grappelli, Urbie Green, Michael Gregory, Dave Grusin, Kit Hain, Delores Hall, Lionel Hampton, Gene Harris, Takehiro Honda, Lena Horne, Miki Howard, Bobbi Humphrey, Phyllis Hyman, Masaru Imada, Freddie Jackson, Joe Jackson, Rebbie Jackson, Al Jarreau, Quincy Jones, Ryo Kawasaki, Earl Klugh, Kahoru Kohiruimaki, Wayne Krantz, Bireli Lagrene, Yusef Lateef, Webster Lewis, Dave Liebman, Reggie Lucas, Ralph MacDonald, Teo Macero, Madonna, Teena Marie, Sleepy Matsumoto, Maureen McGovern, Sergio Mendes, Pat Metheny, Bette Midler, Barry Miles, Russell Morris, Gerry Mulligan, Milton Nascimento, David “Fathead” Newman, Maxine Nightingale, Claude Nougaro, The O’Jays, Jeffrey Osborne, Phil Perry, Peter, Paul & Mary, Esther Phillips, Simon Phillips, Noel Pointer, Jesse Rae, Ernest Ranglin, Lou Rawls, Jess Roden, Diana Ross, Ray Russell, Sam & Dave, David Sanborn, Arturo Sandoval, Alejandro Sanz, Lalo Schifrin, Helen Schneider, John Scofield, John Sebastian, Doc Severinsen, Carly Simon, Edward Simon, Paul Simon, Simon & Garfunkel, Kathy Sledge, Lonnie Liston Smith, Steve Smith, Phoebe Snow, Bert Sommer, David Spinozza, Steely Dan, Jeremy Steig, Charles Sullivan, Ximo Tebar, Nino Tempo, John Tropea, Michal Urbaniak, Dave Valentin, Luther Vandross, Harold Vick, Roch Voisine, Martha Wash, Kazumi Watanabe, Sadao Watanabe, Frank Weber, Dave Weckl, James D-Train Williams, Vanessa Williams, Nancy Wilson, Bernie Worrell and Akiko Yano. As co – leader Jackson released three albums.

Lou Donaldson: Alligator Bogaloo

Leave a comment

In August 1967, “Blue Note” label released “Alligator Bogaloo”, the 28th Lou Donaldson album. It was recorded in April 1967, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Lou Donaldson – alto saxophone
  • Melvin Lastie – cornet
  • Lonnie Smith – organ
  • George Benson – guitar
  • Leo Morris – drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – recording

Track listing:

All tracks by Lou Donaldson, except where noted.

  1. Alligator Bogaloo
  2. One Cylinder – Freddie McCoy
  3. The Thang
  4. Aw Shucks! – Lonnie Smith
  5. Rev. Moses
  6. I Want a Little Girl – Murray Mencher, Billy Moll

George Benson: Tell It Like It Is

Leave a comment

In July 1969, “A&M” label released “Tell It Like It Is”, the seventh George Benson album. It was recorded April – May 1969, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • George Benson – vocals, guitar
  • Rodgers Grant, Richard Tee – piano
  • Bob Bushnell, Jerry Jemmott, Jim Fielder – bass guitar
  • Leo Morris – drums
  • Paul Alicea, Angel Allende, Johnny Pacheco – percussion
  • Arthur Clarke, Bob Porcelli, Hubert Laws, Jerome Richardson, Joe Farrell, Joe Henderson, Sonny Fortune – saxophone
  • Lew Soloff – trumpet
  • Marty Sheller – arrangements, conductor
  • Pete Turner – photography

Track listing:

  1. Soul Limbo – Booker T. & the M.G.’s
  2. Are You Happy – Theresa Bell, Jerry Butler, Kenneth Gamble
  3. Tell It Like It Is – George Davis, Lee Diamond
  4. Land of 1000 Dances – Chris Kenner
  5. Jackie, All – Eumir Deodato
  6. Don’t Cha Hear Me Callin’ to Ya – Rudy Stevenson
  7. Water Brother – Don Sebesky
  8. My Woman’s Good to Me – Billy Sherrill, Glenn Sutton
  9. Jama Joe – George Benson
  10. My Cherie Amour – Stevie Wonder, Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy
  11. Out in the Cold Again – Ted Koehler, Rube Bloom

Van Morrison: Duets: Re-working the Catalogue

Leave a comment

On March 13, 2015, “RCA” label released “Duets: Re-working the Catalogue”, the 35th Van Morrison studio album. It was recorded in 2014, at “Manchester Evening News Arena”, “Slieve Donard Hotel” in Newcastle, “British Grove” in Chiswick, London, “Air Lyndhurst Hall” in Hampstead, London and was produced by Van Morrison and Bob Rock.

Personnel:

  1. Van Morrison – vocals, acoustic guitar, alto saxophone
  2. Dave Keary – guitar, banjo
  3. Marcel Camargo, Ryan Lerman – guitar
  4. David Garfield, Alan Chang – piano
  5. Paul Moran – Hammond organ, piano, flugelhorn, trumpet
  6. Paul Moore, Stanley Banks, Craig Polasko – bass
  7. Jeff Lardner, Robbie Ruggiero, Khari Parker, Marion Felder – drums
  8. Abass Nii Dodoo, Mike Osborn, Lilliana de Los Reyes – percussion
  9. Jake Saslow, Rob Wilkerson – alto saxophone
  10. Christopher White – tenor and baritone saxophone, tin whistle
  11. Jacob Rodriguez – baritone saxophone
  12. Jean Caze, Jumaane Smith, Justin Ray – trumpet
  13. Alistair White – trombone, euphonium
  14. Mark Nightingale, Joshua Brown, Nick Vayenas – trombone
  15. Bobby Womack – vocals
  16. Mavis Staples – vocals
  17. George Benson – vocals
  18. Joss Stone – vocals
  19. P.J. Proby – vocals
  20. Clare Teal – vocals
  21. Gregory Porter – vocals
  22. Mick Hucknall – vocals
  23. Natalie Cole – vocals
  24. Georgie Fame – vocals
  25. Shana Morrison – vocals
  26. Steve Winwood – vocals
  27. Chris Farlowe – vocals
  28. Mark Knopfler – vocals
  29. Michael Bublé – vocals
  30. Taj Mahal – vocals

Track listing:

  1. Some Peace of Mind (with Bobby Womack)
  2. If I Ever Needed Someone (with Mavis Staples)
  3. Higher than the World (with George Benson)
  4. Wild Honey (with Joss Stone)
  5. Whatever Happened to P.J. Proby (with PJ Proby)
  6. Carrying a Torch (with Clare Teal)
  7. The Eternal Kansas City (with Gregory Porter)
  8. Streets of Arklow (with Mick Hucknall)
  9. These are the Days (with Natalie Cole)
  10. Get on with the Show (with Georgie Fame)
  11. Rough God Goes Riding (with Shana Morrison)
  12. Fire in the Belly (with Steve Winwood)
  13. Born to Sing (with Chris Farlowe)
  14. Irish Heartbeat (with Mark Knopfler)
  15. Real Real Gone (with Michael Bublé)
  16. How Can a Poor Boy? (with Taj Mahal)

Jack McDuff: Brother Jack At The Jazz Workshop Live!

Leave a comment

In December 1963, “Prestige” label released “Brother Jack at the Jazz Workshop Live!”, the twelve Jack McDuff album. It was recorded in October 1963, at “The Jazz Workshop” in San Francisco, and was produced by Lew Futterman and Peter Paul.

Personnel:

  • Jack McDuff – organ
  • Red Holloway – soprano and tenor saxophone
  • Harold Vick – tenor saxophone, flute
  • George Benson – guitar
  • Joe Dukes – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Jack McDuff, except where noted.

  1. Blues 1 & 8
  2. Passing Through – Charles Lloyd
  3. Dink’s Blues
  4. Grease Monkey
  5. Vas Dis
  6. Somewhere in the Night – Billy May
  7. Jive Samba – Nat Adderley

Hank Crawford: We Got A Good Thing Going

Leave a comment

In November 1972, “Kudu” label released “We Got a Good Thing Going”, the thirteenth Hank Crawford album. It was recorded September – October 1972, at “Van Gelder Studios” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Hank Crawford – alto saxophone
  • Richard Tee – piano, electric piano, organ
  • George Benson, Cornell Dupree – electric guitar
  • Ron Carter, Gordon Edwards – double bass, electric bass
  • Bernard Purdie – drums
  • Phil Kraus – vibraphone, orchestra bells
  • Art Jenkins – congas, tambourine
  • Max Ellen, Paul Gershman, Emanuel Green, Harold Kohon, Harry Lookofsky, Joe Malin, David Nadien, Elliot Rosoff, Irving Spice – violin
  • Al Brown, Harold Coletta, Ted Israel – viola
  • Charles McCracken, George Ricci – cello
  • Margaret Ross – harp
  • Bob James, Don Sebesky – arrangements, conductor
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer

Track listing:

  1. We Got a Good Thing Going – The Corporation
  2. I Don’t Know – Bill Withers
  3. Down to Earth – Ron Miller, Avery Vandenberg
  4. I’m Just a Lucky So-and-So – Duke Ellington, Mack David
  5. Imagination – Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke
  6. Little Tear – Don Sebesky
  7. The Christmas Song – Mel Tormé, Robert Wells
  8. Winter Wonderland – Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith
  9. Alone Again (Naturally) – Gilbert O’Sullivan
  10. Dirt Dobbler – Alfred Ellis
  11. Betcha by Golly, Wow – Thom Bell, Linda Creed
  12. This Is All I Ask – Gordon Jenkins
  13. Jazz Bridge – Don Sebesky

Hank Mobley: Reach Out!

Leave a comment

In November 1968, “Blue Note” label released “Reach Out!”, the 20th Hank Mobley album. It was recorded in January 1968, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Francis Wolff.

Personnel:

  • Hank Mobley – tenor saxophone
  • Woody Shaw – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • LaMont Johnson – piano
  • George Benson – guitar
  • Bob Cranshaw – bass
  • Billy Higgins – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Hank Mobley except where noted.

  1. Reach Out (I’ll Be There) – Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland
  2. Up, Over and Out
  3. Lookin’ East
  4. Goin’ Out of My Head – Teddy Randazzo, Bob Weinstein
  5. Good Pickin’s
  6. Beverly – LaMont Johnson

Boney James: Shine

Leave a comment

On September 26, 2006, “Concord” label released “Shine”. the tenth Boney James album. It was recorded in 2006, at “The Backyard”, “Record Plant” and “Westlake Studios” in Los Angeles, Capitol Studios”, “Sunset Studios” “Schnee Studios” in Hollywood, “Cocoa Butt Studios” in Culver City, California, “Porcupine Studios” in Chandler, Arizona, “Studio A” in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, and was produced by Boney James.

Personnel:

  • Boney James – soprano, alto and tenor saxophone, keyboards, flute, arrangements, recording
  • Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars, acoustic guitar
  • Tony Maiden – electric guitar, guitars
  • Kleber Jorge – vocals, acoustic guitar
  • Michael Thompson – guitars
  • Agape – guitars
  • Dean Parks – guitars, acoustic guitar
  • Wah Wah Watson – guitars, rhythm guitar
  • George Benson – lead guitar
  • Darrell Smith – keyboards, acoustic piano, Rhodes piano, Wurlitzer electric piano
  • Eric Daniels – acoustic piano
  • Johnny Britt – acoustic piano, arrangements
  • George Duke – Rhodes piano
  • Rex Rideout – acoustic piano, Rhodes piano, keyboards
  • Tim Carmon – keyboards, arrangements, Rhodes piano, organ, acoustic piano
  • Gerald McCauley – Moog synthesizer, arrangements
  • Herman Jackson – Rhodes piano
  • Tollak Ollestad – harmonica
  • Alex Al – bass
  • Teddy Campbell – drums
  • Lil’ John Roberts – drums
  • Lenny Castro – percussion
  • Dan Higgins – saxophones, flute
  • Bill Reichenbach Jr. – trombone
  • Jerry Hey – trumpet, flugelhorn, horn arrangements
  • Christian Scott – trumpet
  • Romeo – vocal arrangements
  • Esthero – lead and backing vocals
  • Lauren Evans – backing vocals, ooh vocals
  • Dwele – vocals, vocal arrangements
  • Faith Evans – vocals
  • Philip Bailey – vocals
  • Ann Nesby – vocals

String section

  • Jackie Brand, Bruce Dukov, Julie Gigante, Henry Gronnier, Alan Grunfeld, Natalie Leggett, Ralph Morrison, Alyssa Park, Katia Popov, Tereza Stanislav, Sarah Thornblade, Margaret Wooten – violin
  • Sam Formicola, Carrie Holzman-Little, Roland Kato, Victoria Miskolczy – viola
  • Stephen Erdody, Trevor Handy, Paula Hochhalter, Tina Soule – cello
  • Jerry Hey – arrangements
  • Darrell Smith – arrangements
  • Todd Fairall – recording
  • Darius Fong – recording, second engineer
  • Dave Rideau – recording
  • Bill Schnee – recording, mixing
  • Michael Thompson – recording
  • John Adams – second engineer
  • Jeff Harris – second engineer
  • Jimmy Hoyson – second engineer
  • Ryan Kennedy – second engineer
  • Mark McLaughlin – second engineer
  • Philip Ramos – second engineer
  • Eric Rennaker – second engineer
  • Assen Stoyanov – second engineer
  • Erich Talaba – second engineer
  • Aaron Walk – second engineer
  • John Wroble – second engineer
  • Koji Egawa – Pro Tools consultant
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing
  • Robert Hadley – mastering
  • Lexy Shroyer – production coordinator
  • Glenn Barry – art production
  • Andy Engel – design
  • Don Miller – photography

Track listing:

  1. Shine – Boney James, Lauren Evans, Lily Mariye
  2. The Total Experience – Boney James, Johnny Britt
  3. Aquas de Março – Antonio Carlos Jobim
  4. Let It Go – Boney James, Rex Rideout
  5. In the Rain – Anthony Hestor
  6. Gonna Get It – Boney James, Rahsaan Patterson
  7. Breathe – Boney James, Phil Davis
  8. Love Song – Boney James, Eric Daniels, Johnny Britt
  9. Hypnotic – Boney James
  10. The Way She Walks – Boney James, Leon Bisquera
  11. Dedication – Boney James, Gerald McCauley, Joe Wolfe
  12. Soft – Chuck Mangione

Don Sebeski: Giant Box

Leave a comment

In July 1973, “CTI” label released “Giant Box”, the third Don Sebeski album. It was recorded April – May 1973, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Don Sebesky – electric piano, organ, clavinet, accordion, arrangements, conductor
  • Jackie Cain, Roy Kral – vocals
  • Lani Groves, Carl Caldwell, Tasha Thomas – vocals
  • Hubert Laws – soprano saxophone, flute
  • Joe Farrell – soprano saxophone
  • Romeo Penque – soprano saxophone, clarinet, flute, piccolo, oboe, English horn
  • Grover Washington, Jr. – alto saxophone
  • Paul Desmond – alto saxophone
  • Phil Bodner – soprano saxophone, clarinet, flute, piccolo
  • George Marge – soprano saxophone, baritone saxophone, clarinet, flute, oboe, English horn
  • Walt Levinsky – tenor saxophone, clarinet
  • Freddie Hubbard – trumpet
  • Randy Brecker, Alan Rubin, Joe Shepley – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Garnett Brown – trombone
  • Wayne Andre, Warren Covington – trombone, baritone horn
  • Paul Faulise, Alan Raph – bass trombone, baritone horn
  • Jim Buffington, Earl Chapin – French horn
  • Tony Price – tuba
  • Dave Friedman, Phil Kraus, Ralph MacDonald, Airto Moreira – percussion
  • Alfred Brown, Harry Cykman, Max Ellen, Paul Gershman, Harry Glickman, Emanuel Green, Harold Kohon, Charles Libove, Harry Lookofsky, Joe Malin, David Nadien, Gene Orloff, Elliot Rosoff, Irving Spice – violin
  • Seymour Barab, Charles McCracken, George Ricci, Alan Shulman – cello
  • Margaret Ross – harp
  • George Benson – electric guitar
  • Bob James – organ
  • Ron Carter – bass, electric bass, piccolo bass
  • Homer Mensch – bass
  • Billy Cobham – drums
  • Jack DeJohnette – drums
  • Airto Moreira – percussion
  • Rubens Bassini – conga
  • Milt Jackson – vibraphone
  • Bob Ciano – design

Track listing:

 All tracks, by Don Sebesky, except where noted.

  1. Firebird/Birds of Fire – Igor Stravinsky, John McLaughlin
  2. Song to a Seagull – Joni Mitchell
  3. Free as a Bird
  4. Psalm 150 – Jimmy Webb
  5. Vocalise – Sergei Rachmaninoff
  6. Fly/Circles
  7. Semi-Tough