George Benson - Absolute Benson
List Price:
Our Price: $7.74
You Save: $11.24 (59%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.61 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more new music releases
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Music CD Cover
Artist: George BensonBrand: BENSON,GEORGE
Edition: Music CD
Format: Enhanced
CD Release Date: 2000-05-23
Music Label: Grp Records
Soundtracks:
- Ghetto
- El Barrio
- Jazzenco
- Deeper Than You Think
- One on One
- Hipping the Hop
- Lately
- Come Back Baby
- Medicine Man
Free Music Notes for Absolute Benson
Free Music Review: jazzy Benson and Joe Sample in a beautiful project.
Hit: 5 Stars
It is no secret that George Benson is one of the most talented guitarists and singers in jazz (his first musical realm as a recording artist) and R&B/pop (where he is better known to the great audiences). But through most of the '80s and '90s not much of the jazz side of him was much in evidence. A big waste of talent, even as he continued a good and lucrative career. Since the mid-90s Benson has added more elements of jazz into his music, to good effect, and this '99 album is his best foray into contemporary smooth jazz. While not as hardcore jazz as his '60s recordings, I say it is a fine addition to Benson albums such as "Breezing" and "Weekend in LA", works that successfully blended serious jazz chops with friendly, accessible grooves.
Backed by a tight small combo including the great key player Joe Sample, Benson leads (or perhaps co-leads, as Sample writes most of the tunes and is prominent in all arrangements) a tight band that plays a classy, funky, smooth collection of tracks ranging from smooth funk-jazz to ,well, smooth jazz ballads and one blues by Ray Charles.
Not much vocal work from Benson here, though he sings well in the opening tune "The Ghetto" and the blues track. His playing is super tasty and brilliant, and you will get plenty of his trademark scat singing doubled by the guitar. He delivers!
The first 2 tracks are lively, rhythmic, "The Ghetto" is a groovy marvel and "El Barrio" even raises the energy up a notch with a faster tempo. Then things mellow out a bit and you get a selection of ballads. My favorite is "Deeper than You Think". Good stuff but I miss something catchy like "Breezing". But it is all very tasty and overall a very nice project. 'Hipping the Hop" is an intriguing, inventive jazz tune. And the final tune, "Medicine Man", co-written by Benson and Sample, it is a fine jam: great atmosphere, layered arrangement, propelled by a funky, sexy groove and with serious playing by Benson and Sample.
I wish these guys get together more often because of course there is chemistry and great musicianship at play in this album. A worth addition if you like Benson and/or Sample.
Absolute Benson Poster
Mostly an instrumental record of new standards and rare favorites. This import edition adds one bonus track, 'El Barrio' (Masters At Work Remix)' also includes an enhanced cd component featuring assorted photographs & exclusive filmed studio footage unavailable elsewhere. 2000 release. Standard jewelcase.George Benson has been threatening to record a serious guitar album for years, and he's finally done it. Absolute Benson is 99.9 percent pure jazz guitar as only this master of the instrument can produce. Recalling Benson's CTI output of the 1970s, Absolute Benson features his lyrical, logical, and often emotional playing in mellow, groove-a-licious arrangements. Taking a cue from Santana and Louie Vega (who produced a couple of tracks here), Benson starts off AB with the percolating Latin bump of Donny Hathaway's "The Ghetto" and its companion piece, "El Barrio." Benson does scat and sing here, but after his smooth crooning and Joe Sample's funky electric piano, Benson's nimble fingers take flight and never touch down. AB includes the blistering burn of "El Barrio," the burnished tones and smooth Brazilian swing of "Jazzenco," the Wes Montgomery-style chordal work of "Deeper Than You Think," the bittersweet jazz waltz "One on One," the cosmopolitan "Hipping the Hop," and the deep-funk closer "Medicine Man." AB is commercial, so don't expect any burning hard bop or samba madness. But Benson's guitar work is so liquid and gorgeous, it's simply wonderful to hear him cut loose and really play with musicians--Ricky Petersen, Steve Gadd, Luis Conte, Christian McBride--who know how to work the edges of the soul-jazz groove. --Ken Micallef
Jazz Music CDs
Music Genres
Top music charts in Jazz Music CDs
Curtis Brothers Quartet - Blood, Spirit, Land, Water, FreedomRelease date: 2009-10-01; Music CD
![Jazz Casual - 3-Pack Vol. 1 (Count Basie, Carmen McRae, John Coltrane) [VHS] Image](/images/Jazz-Casual-3-Pack-Vol-1-Count-Basie-Carmen-McRae-John-Coltrane-VHS-6305320578-X.jpg)
Jazz Casuals: Coltrane Basie & Mcrae - Jazz Casual - 3-Pack Vol. 1 (Count Basie, Carmen McRae, John Coltrane) [VHS]Rhino / Wea; Release date: 1999-05-04; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $6.84
Price in other shops:
![Jazz Legend 2 [VHS] Image](/images/Jazz-Legend-2-VHS-6303400787-X.jpg){kind=small}
Buddy Rich - Jazz Legend 2 [VHS]Warner Brothers Pub.; Release date: 2000-10-20; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $11.90
Price in other shops:
![Living Legend of the Electric Guitar [VHS] Image](/images/Living-Legend-of-the-Electric-Guitar-VHS-6302658225-X.jpg){kind=small}
Les Paul - Living Legend of the Electric Guitar [VHS]Bmg Video Label; Release date: 1993-02-09; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $19.95
Price in other shops:
![Hurricane [VHS] Image](/images/Hurricane-VHS-6302251281-X.jpg){kind=small}
Herbie Hancock - Hurricane [VHS]View Video; Release date: 1992-04-07; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $2.50
Cocktails for Twoby band leader Spike Jones, Del Porter, Mel Blanc & Quartet, Jim Cassidy & The City Slickers
Music CD
Best price: $19.95
![Dave Grusin and the NY/LA Dream Band [VHS] Image](/images/Dave-Grusin-and-the-NY-LA-Dream-Band-VHS-6301724496-X.jpg)
Dave Grusin - Dave Grusin and the NY/ LA Dream Band [VHS]Umgd; Release date: 1990-06-26; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $1.99
Price in other shops:
![Diane Schuur & Count Basie Orchestra [VHS] Image](/images/Diane-Schuur-Count-Basie-Orchestra-VHS-630164770X-X.jpg){kind=small}
Count Basie, Diane Schuur - Diane Schuur & Count Basie Orchestra [VHS]Grp Records; Release date: 1996-01-30; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $3.99
Price in other shops:
Damals in HamburgRelease date: 1999-08-11; Music CD
Best price: $22.96
Ben Webster - Ben WebsterRelease date: 2006-12-20; Music CD
Price in other shops:
Top Rated Albums
George Benson - That's RightRelease date: 1996-07-30; Music CD
Best price: $3.02
Price in other shops:
Boney James - ContactRelease date: 2011-03-29; Music CD
Best price: $7.07
Price in other shops:
Al Jarreau, George Benson - George Benson and Al Jarreau - Givin' It UpBENSON,GEORGE; Release date: 2006-10-24; Music CD
Best price: $5.52
Price in other shops:
George Benson - BreezinBENSON,GEORGE; Release date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $6.82
Price in other shops:
Norman Brown - West Coast CoolinWarner Bros; Release date: 2004-09-21; Music CD
Best price: $6.24
Price in other shops:
George Benson - Standing TogetherRelease date: 1998-06-02; Music CD
Best price: $5.56
Price in other shops:
George Benson - Bad BensonRelease date: 2008-03-01; Music CD
Best price: $2.49
Price in other shops:
George Benson - Livin' Inside Your LoveBENSON,GEORGE; Release date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $5.47
Price in other shops:
George Benson - Guitar ManRelease date: 2011-10-04; Music CD
Best price: $10.82
Price in other shops:
George Benson - In Your EyesRelease date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $6.42
Price in other shops: