Tag Archives: George Benson

McCoy Tyner

On March 6, 2020, Alfred McCoy Tyner died aged 81. He was musician (piano), composer, bandleader, one of the most recognizable and influential figures in jazz history. He has recorded and performed with many famous musicians including John Coltrane, Art Blakey, Donald Byrd, George Benson, Art Farmer, Lou Donaldson, Benny Golson, Grant Green, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, Milt Jackson, J.J. Jackson, Blue Mitchell, Hank Mobley, Lee Morgan, David Murray, Julian Priester, Sonny Rollins, Ron Carter, Al Foster, Avery Sharpe, Woody Shaw, Jackie McLean, Cecil McBee, Jack DeJohnette, Wayne Shorter, Sonny Stitt and Stanley Turrentine, As a leader he recorded 74 albums. Tyner was a “NEA Jazz Master” and a five-time “Grammy” winner.

Airto Moreira: Free

On October 24, 1972, “CTI” label released “Free”, the third Airto Moreira studio album. It was recorded March – April 1972, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Airto Moreira– vocals, percussion
  • Flora Purim– vocals
  • George Benson– guitar
  • Jay Berliner– guitar
  • Keith Jarrett– piano
  • Nelson Ayres – electric piano
  • Chick Corea– piano, electric piano
  • Ron Carter– double bass
  • Stanley Clarke– bass guitar
  • Joe Farrell– soprano saxophone, alto and bass flutes, piccolo
  • Burt Collins– trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Mel Davis– trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Alan Rubin– trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Wayne Andre– trombone
  • Garnett Brown– trombone
  • Joe Wallace – trombone
  • Hubert Laws– flute
  • Don Sebesky– arranger

Track listing:

  1. Return to Forever – Chick Corea
  2. Flora’s Song – Flora Purim
  3. Free – Airto Moreira
  4. Lucky Southern – Keith Jarrett
  5. Creek (Arroio) – Victor Brazil
  6. So Tender – Keith Jarrett
  7. Jequié – Moacir Santos

Freddie Hubbard: Straight Life

In January 1971, “CTI” label released “Straight Life”, the nineteenth Freddie Hubbard album It was recorded on 16 November 1970, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Freddie Hubbard- trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Joe Henderson- tenor saxophone
  • Herbie Hancock- electric piano
  • George Benson- guitar
  • Weldon Irvine- tambourine
  • Ron Carter- double bass
  • Jack DeJohnette- drums
  • Richard Landrum – drums, percussion

Track listing:

  1. Straight Life – Freddie Hubbard
  2. Clean – Weldon Irvine
  3. Here’s That Rainy Day – Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke

George Benson: Give Me The Night

On August 9, 1980, “Qwest Records” label released “Give Me The Night”, the 18th George Benson album. It was recorded in 1980, at “Kendun Recorders” in Burbank,  and “Cherokee Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Quincy Jones. in 1981 Benson won “Grammy Awards” for “Best Male R&B Vocal Performance”, the track “Moody’s Mood” won “Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male” and track “Off Broadway” won “Best R&B Instrumental Performance”. Quincy Jones and Jerry Hey also won the “Grammy Award” for “Best Instrumental Arrangement” for the song “Dinorah, Dinorah”. The album was certified Platinum in US by the “RIIA”.

Personnel:

  • George Benson– lead and backing vocals, guitar and lead guitar, scat
  • Patti Austin – lead and backing vocals
  • Lee Ritenour– acoustic and electric guitar
  • Greg Phillinganes– keyboards, synthesizer, Fender Rhodes
  • Michael Boddicker– synthesizer
  • Richard Tee– synthesizer bass, electric piano, synthesizer
  • Herbie Hancock– synthesizer, Fender Rhodes
  • Clare Fischer– Yamaha CS30, acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes
  • George Duke– keyboards
  • Louis Johnson, Abe Laboriel– bass guitar
  • John Robinson, Carlos Vega – drums
  • Paulinho Da Costa– percussion
  • Kim Hutchcroft, Larry Williams– saxophone, flute
  • Jerry Hey– trumpet
  • Marty Paich– string arrangements, conductor
  • Sid Sharp – concertmaster
  • Jim Gilstrap, Diva Gray, Jocelyn Allen, Tom Bahler– backing vocals
  • Bruce Swedien – recording, mixing
  • Sheridan Eldridge, Ralph Osbourne, Mark Sackett – engineer assistant
  • Jim Sintetos, Kent Duncan – mastering
  • Quincy Jones – liner notes
  • Richard Seireeni – art direction
  • Paul Jasmin – illustration
  • Norman Seeff – cover photography
  • Peter Brill – sleeve photography
  • Anderson Typographics – typohraphics

Track listing:

All tracks by Rod Temperton except where noted.

  1. Love X Love
  2. Off Broadway
  3. Moody’s Mood – Eddie Jefferson, James Moody
  4. Give Me the Night
  5. What’s On Your Mind – Glen Ballard, Kerry Chater
  6. Dinorah, Dinorah – Ivan Lins, Vitor Martins
  7. Love Dance – ivan Lins, Gilson Peranzzetta, Paul Williams
  8. Star of a Story (X)
  9. Midnight Love Affair – David “Hawk” Wolinski
  10. Turn Out the Lamplight

George Benson: Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole

On June 4, 2013, “Concord Jazz” label released “Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole”, the 36 George Benson studio album. It was recorded in 2013, and was produced by John Burk.

Personnel:

  • George Benson- vocals, guitar
  • Tim May – guitar
  • Michael O’Neill- baritone guitar, banjo
  • Lil’ Georgie Benson- vocals, ukulele
  • Randy Waldman- piano
  • Chuck Berghofer- bass
  • Gregg Field – drums
  • Michael Fisher – percussion
  • Sheila E.- percussion
  • Wynton Marsalis– trumpet
  • Till Brönner– trumpet
  • Idina Menzel– vocals
  • Judith Hill- vocals
  • Janey Clewer, Alvin Chea, Don Chelton – background vocals
  • Chris Papastephanou, Randy Waldman- backing vocals

Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra:

  • Ryan Chapman, Chris Burbank, Gilbert Paz, Jared Hall – trumpet
  • Chris Gagne, Kendall Moore, Stephen Szabadi, Major Bailey p trombone
  • Neil Carson, Kevin McKeown – alto saxophone
  • Mark Small, Alex Weitz – tenor saxophone
  • Derek Smith – baritone saxophone
  • Cassandra Eisenreich – flute
  • Jon Anderson – French horn
  • Steffen Zeichner (concertmaster and soloist), Abby Young, Adam Diderrich, Karin O’Keefe, Zack Piper, Michelle Godbee, Patricia Jancova, Tomas Cotik, Victor Colmenares, James Reynolds, Jonah Osawa, Rob Patrignani, Arianne Urban, Michelle Mlacker, Katrina Schaeffer – violin
  • Robyn Savitzky, Kathryn Severing, Marcela Fernandez, Lauren Miller – viola
  • Joy Adams, Cecilia Huerta, Andrew Kromholz, Chia-Li Yu, Sarah Gongaware – cello
  • Rachel Hershey, Jeff Kipperman, Yen-Ling Lin – bass
  • Christina Hardister – harp
  • Shelton Berg – dean
  • Terence Blanchard – artistic director
  • Scott Flavin – artistic coordinator
  • Stephen Guerra – managing director

Track listing:

  1. Mona Lisa – (as Lil’ Georgie Benson)
  2. Just One of Those Things – Cole Porter
  3. Unforgettable – Irving Gordon
  4. Walkin’ My Baby – Roy Turk, Fred E. Ahlert
  5. When I Fall in Love – Victor Young, Edward Heyman
  6. Route 66 – Bobby Troup
  7. Nature Boy – Eden Ahbez
  8. Ballerina – Carl Sigman, Bob Russell
  9. Smile – Charlie Chaplin, John Turner, Geoffrey Parsons
  10. Straighten Up and Fly Right – Nat King Cole, Irving Mills
  11. Too Young – Sidney Lippman, Sylvia Dee
  12. I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter – Joe Young, Fred E. Ahlert
  13. Mona Lisa – Jay Livingston, Ray Evans

Al Jarreau

On February 12, 2017, Alwin Lopez “Al” Jarreau died aged 76. He was musician (percussion) and singer, with successful solo career, has recorded and performed with many famous musicians and bands including: Joe Sample, Chick Corea, Kathleen Battle, Miles Davis, David Sanborn Rick Braun, George Benson, Freddie Hubbard, Sister Sledge, Bob James, Shakatak, Lee Ritenour, Benny Golson and Quincy Jones. In 1991 Jarreau was awarded the “Honorary Doctorate of Music” by “Berklee College of Music”; in 2001 he was inducted in the “Hollywood Walk of Fame”; in 2004 he was awarded “Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts” by “University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee”, and in 2012 he was inducted in the “SoulMusic Hall of Fame at SoulMusic.com”. Jarreau won seven “Grammy Awards”.

Freddie Hubbard

On December 29, 2008, Frederick Dewayne “Freddie” Hubbard died aged 70. He was musician (trumpet) and composer, known primarily for playing in the bebop, hard bop and post bop styles. He has performed and recorded with many famous musicians including George Benson, Walter Benton, Art Blakey, Tina Brooks, Kenny Burrell, George Cables, Betty Carter, Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Richard Davis, Eric Dolphy, Kenny Drew, Charles Earland, Bill Evan,  Joe Farrell, Curtis Fuller, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Oscar Peterson, Benny Golson, Dexter Gordon, Slide Hampton, Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Heath, Joe Henderson, Andrew Hill, Bobby Hutcherson, Milt Jackson, Billy Joel, Elton John, J.J. Johnson, Quincy Jones, John Lewis, Kirk Lightsey, Ronnie Mathews, Jackie McLean, The Modern Jazz Quartet, Wes Montgomery, Hank Mobley, Alphonse Mouzon, Oliver Nelson, Duke Pearson, Sam Rivers, Max Roach, Sonny Rollins, Rufus, Poncho Sanchez, Don Sebesky, Wayne Shorter, Leon Thomas, Stanley Turrentine, McCoy Tyner, Cedar Walton and Randy Weston.

Stevie Wonder: Songs In The Key Of Life

songs_in_the_key_of_life

On September 28, 1976, “Motown” label released “Songs in the Key of Life”, the eighteenth Stevie Wonder studio album. It was recorded 1974 – 1976: at “Crystal Sound” in Hollywood; “Record Plant” in Los Angeles; “Record Plant” in Sausalito;”The Hit Factory” in New York City, and was produced by Stevie Wonder. The original double vinyl album was released with a four-song bonus EP. In 2005, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Song in the Key of Life” at number 57 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of all Time”. The album was certified 2 x Platinum in Canada by “Music Canada”; Platinum in UK by “BPI”; Diamond in the US by “RIIA”;

Personnel:

  • Stevie Wonder– vocals, harmonica,  keyboards,  drums, arrangements, programming
  • Michael Sembello– guitar
  • Sneaky Pete Kleinow– pedal steel
  • George Benson– vocals, guitar
  • G. “Snuffy” Walden– guitar
  • Dean Parks– guitar
  • Ben Bridges – guitar, sitar
  • Howard “Buzzy” Feiten– guitar
  • Ronnie Foster– organ
  • Herbie Hancock– keyboards, handclapping
  • Greg Phillinganes– keyboards
  • Nathan Watts– vocals, bass guitar, handclapping
  • Gary Olazabal – bass sound, engineer
  • Greg Brown – drums
  • Raymond Lee Pounds – drums
  • Carol Cole – percussion
  • Bobbye Hall– percussion
  • Raymond Maldonado – percussion
  • Carmelo Garcia – percussion, timbales
  • Renee Hardaway – vocals, percussion
  • Nelson Hayes – vocals, percussion, sound effects
  • Jim Horn– saxophone
  • Hank Redd – alto and tenor saxophone
  • Trevor Lawrence – tenor saxophone
  • Steve Madaio – trumpet
  • Glen Ferris – trombone
  • George Bohannon – trombone
  • Bobbi Humphrey– flute
  • Dorothy Ashby– harp
  • Deniece Williams– vocals
  • Minnie Riperton– vocals
  • Gary Byrd – vocals
  • Michael Wycoff– vocals
  • Larry Scott – sound effects
  • Jay Boy Adams – vocals
  • Nathan Alford, Jr. – percussion
  • Eddie “Bongo” Brown – percussion
  • Edna Orso – vocals, percussion
  • Marietta Waters – vocals, percussion
  • Colleen Carleton – vocals, percussion
  • Larry Latimer – vocals, percussion
  • Amale Mathews – vocals, percussion
  • Josette Valentino – vocals, percussion, handclapping
  • Charles Brewer – vocals, percussion, programming
  • Shirley Brewer – vocals, percussion, speaking part
  • John Fischbach – vocals, percussion, programming, engineer
  • Raymond Maldonado – percussion, trumpet
  • Henry America – vocals
  • Susie Fuzzell – vocals
  • Anthony Givens – vocals
  • Audrey Givens – vocals
  • Derrick Givens – vocals
  • Mildred Givens – vocals
  • Michael Lee Gray – vocals
  • Mimi Green – vocals
  • Susaye Greene Brown– vocals
  • Bhakta Gregory – vocals
  • John Harris – sound effects
  • Jeania Harris – vocals
  • Troy Harris – vocals
  • Terry Hendricks – vocals
  • Adrian Janes – vocals
  • Josie James – vocals
  • Calvin Johnson – vocals
  • Carol Johnson – vocals
  • Patricia Johnson – vocals
  • Madelaine Jones – vocals
  • Bhakta Kevin – vocals
  • Phillip Kimble – vocals
  • James Lambert – vocals
  • Linda Lawrence – vocals
  • Irma Leslie – vocals
  • Kim Lewis – vocals
  • Carl Lockhart – vocals
  • Gail Lockhart – vocals
  • Linda America – vocals
  • Baradras – vocals
  • Brenda Barnett – vocals
  • Khalif Bobatoon – vocals
  • Starshemah Bobatoon – vocals
  • Sudana Bobatoon – vocals
  • Berry Briges – vocals
  • Cecilia Brown – vocals
  • Jean Brown – vocals
  • Rodney Brown – vocals
  • Addie Cox – vocals
  • Agnideva Dasa – vocals
  • Duryodhana Guru Dasa – vocals
  • Jayasacinandana Dasa – vocals
  • Jitamrtyi Dasa – vocals
  • Vedavyasa Dasa – vocals
  • Cinmayi Dasi – vocals
  • Yogamaya Dasi – vocals
  • Carolyn Dennis– vocals
  • Bhakta Eddie – vocals
  • Doe Rani Edwards – vocals
  • Jacqueline F. English – vocals
  • Ethel Enoex – vocals
  • Al Jocko Fann – vocals
  • Barbara Fann – vocals
  • Melani Fann – vocals
  • Shelley Fann – vocals
  • Tracy Fann – vocals
  • Carolyn Massenburg – vocals
  • ArticleMay – vocals
  • Charity McCrary– vocals
  • Linda McCrary-Campbell– vocals
  • Lonnie Morgan – vocals
  • Kim Nixon – vocals
  • Lisa Nixon – vocals
  • Larri Nuckens – vocals
  • Gwen Perry – vocals
  • Gregory Rudd – vocals
  • Rukmini – vocals
  • Yolanda Simmons – vocals, handclapping
  • Keith Slaughter – vocals
  • Rosona Starks – vocals
  • Dennis Swindell – vocals
  • Sundray Tucker – vocals
  • Gary Veney – vocals
  • Sheryl Walker – vocals
  • Mary Lee Whitney – vocals
  • Syreeta Wright– vocals
  • Michael Gray – vocals
  • Susaye Greene – vocals
  • William Moore – vocals
  • Aisha Morris – crying
  • Fountain Jones – programming
  • John Harris – programming
  • Don Hunter – programming, sound effects
  • David Henson – engineer assistant

Track listing:

  1. Love’s in Need of Love Today – Stevie Wonder
  2. Have a Talk with God – Calvin Hardawa, Stevie Wonder
  3. Village Ghetto Land – Gary Byrd, Stevie Wonder
  4. Contusion – Stevie Wonder
  5. Sir Duke – Stevie Wonder
  6. I Wish – Stevie Wonder
  7. Knocks Me Off My Feet – Stevie Wonder
  8. Pastime Paradise – Stevie Wonde
  9. Summer Soft – Stevie Wonder
  10. Ordinary Pain – Stevie Wonder
  11. Isn’t She Lovely – Stevie Wonder
  12. Joy Inside My Tears – Stevie Wonder
  13. Black Man – Gary Byrd and Stevie Wonder
  14. Ngiculela – Es Una Historia – I Am Singing – Stevie Wonder
  15. If It’s Magic – Stevie Wonder
  16. As – Stevie Wonder
  17. Another Star – Stevie Wonder