Jazz / Jazz-Pop, Contemporary Jazz, Crossover Jazz, Quiet Storm, Smooth Jazz
George Benson - Soloist, Vocals, Liner Notes, Guitar
Aaron Walk Assistant Engineer
Carolyn Perry Vocals (Background)
Charles Everett Violin
Charles Loper Trombone
Chuck Findley Trumpet
David Garfield Piano, Keyboards, Organ, Production Assistant, Vocal Arrangement
David Paich Horn Arrangements, Programming, Keyboards, Producer
Dennis Molchan Violin
Don Murray Engineer, Mixing
Doug Sax Mastering
Evan Wilson Viola
Gary Grant Trumpet
Gerald Albright Saxophone
Gerry Hilera Violin
Greg Phillinganes Fender Rhodes, Piano, Keyboards
Guilherme Canaes Engineer
J.J. Blair Vocal Arrangement, Engineer
Jeff Harris Engineer
Jerry Hey Horn Arrangements
Joel Derouin Violin
John Burk Executive Producer, Producer
John Hayhurst Viola
John Wroble Engineer
Lalah Hathaway Vocals
Larissa Collins Art Direction
Lee Ritenour Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric)
Leslie O. Smith Vocal Arrangement
Lori Perry Vocals (Background)
Maguinho Alcantara Drums
Marcus Miller Producer, Organ, Keyboards, Vocals, Drum Loop, Arranger, Conductor, Fender Rhodes, Horn Arrangements, Marimba, Piano, String Arrangements, Vibraphone, Percussion, Bass, Programming
Martin Cooke Assistant Engineer
Mary Hogan A&R
Maurice Grants Celli
Mike Vaccaro Contractor
Noel Lee Wind Chimes, Executive Producer
Noel Zancanella Engineer
Patti Austin Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Paul "Scooby" Smith Assistant Engineer
Paulinho Da Costa Percussion
Robin Ross Viola
Rod Temperton Keyboards, Programming, Arranger
Ronald Clark Violin
Rudolph Stein Celli
Sai Ly Acosta Violin
Sangwook "Sunny" Nam Mastering
Seth Presant Engineer
Sharon Perry Vocals (Background)
Steve Barri Cohen Assistant Engineer
Steve Lukather Producer, Guitar
Steve Porcaro Synthesizer
Susan Chatman Violin
Taka Honda Engineer
Todor Pelev Violin
Tom Scott Horn Arrangements, Saxophone
Tom Syrowski Assistant Engineer
Toninho Horta Guitar (Acoustic), Associate Producer
Victor Vanacore Conductor, String Arrangements, Horn Arrangements
Victoria Lanier Violin
Wah Wah Watson Guitar
Will Brown Assistant Engineer
William Magalhaes Fender Rhodes
Xiao Niu He Violin
This package is a specially priced 2-disc set consisting of Songs and Stories on Compact Disc mixed in traditional stereo and a bonus DVD, containing Monster's High Definition Stereo and Surround mixes. HDS SuperDiscs are specially engineered to capture the true harmonic depth and tonal richness of the music. HDS SuperDiscs deliver the music through a 5.1 speaker system just the way the artist heard it in the studio when it was recorded, the way they intended you to hear it.
National Endowment of the Arts Jazz Master and 10X Grammy-winning, legendary musician George Benson will release his new album on August 25th entitled Songs and Stories, his second for Concord Records / Monster Music. The album is a collection of tunes penned by some of the most prolific and enduring songwriters of the last half-century. Some were written specifically for this new recording, such as Bill Withers' (who came out of retirement to write "A Telephone Call Away" for George), Rod Temperton's "Family Reunion" and Lamont Dozier's "Living in High Definition"; while others, including James Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight", Donny Hathaway's "Someday We'll All Be Free" and Tony Joe White's "Rainy Night in Georgia" were hand-picked by Benson for their ability to convey simple but universal truths about the human experience.
Songs and Stories was produced by Concord's Grammy winning, creative head John Burk and renowned bassist /composer / producer Marcus Miller. Benson, Miller, keyboardist Greg Phillinganes, guitarist Jubu and drummer John Robinson make up the core unit for the project. They were joined by special guests: guitarists Lee Ritenour, Steve Lukather, Wah Wah Watson and Norman Brown, vocalists Lalah Hathaway and Patti Austin, keyboardist David Paich, saxophonists Tom Scott and Gerald Albright along with several others. "Brother, with that team, you can do just about anything," said Benson. "We recorded in the studio for three days straight, and everything we touched had something on it that made us all glad we were there. It was just the right mix of people and material."
And yet, for all of the high-caliber musicians on hand, the most important guests are the songwriters, says co-producer Miller. "Smokey Robinson doesn't perform on this record, but he's still a guest," he says. "Lamont Dozier is a guest. Bill Withers, Rod Temperton and James Taylor are guests. If you take great songs from writers like these, and you put them in the hands of George Benson and a great band, you'd better just get out of the way and let things happen, because the result is going to be something great."
Indeed, the record captures the somewhat underappreciated essential brilliance of his storied career; the ability to simply touch people through authentic lyrics and beautiful melody. On Songs and Stories, George Benson's musical artistry has perhaps never been on sharper display.
To celebrate the release of Songs And Stories, fans can visit the official Benson website, georgebenson.com and receive a free mp3 download of "Living In High Definition", the new song written by legendary composer Lamont Dozier. Additionally on the website, fans can view "The George Benson Sessions: The Making Of Songs And Stories", a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the making of the new record. The series will be updated with a new video each week leading up to and through the August 25 release.
Concord Records is proud to once again partner with Monster Music on presenting the newest George Benson album Songs and Stories on High Definition Surround Sound SuperDisc. The Monster version is a specially priced two-disc package that consists of Songs and Stories on compact disc mixed in traditional stereo and a bonus DVD, containing Monster's High Definition Stereo and Surround mixes. In addition, the bonus DVD features behind-the-scenes video footage of the making of the record including an in-depth interview with George Benson. With its innovative High Definition Surround technology Monster Music is revolutionizing the listening experience. Mastered in the highest resolution possible, HDS SuperDiscs are specially engineered to capture the true harmonic depth and tonal richness of the music. THX certified HDS SuperDiscs deliver the music through a 5.1 speaker system just the way the artist heard it in the studio when it was recorded, the way they intended you to hear it.
George Benson's sound is so recognizable that, in its way, it's quite comforting to hear his voice or his guitar come across on the radio or in a club. His recordings have been polished and extravagant in many cases, but there are those signature elements -- his relaxed delivery and silky touch on the strings and his voice, as evocative as a cool breeze floating across a hot summer night. Songs and Stories doesn't deviate from his formula a great deal, but it doesn't have to. He's chosen ten ubiquitous pop tunes from a variety of songwriters (and one by a relatively new kid on the block), and with the help of producers John Burk and Marcus Miller, he puts them across in fine style. The set opens with James Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight," with the great Brazilian guitarist Toninho Horta on acoustic to contrast with Benson's electric. The tune simply eases down into the listener, and more than a desperate plea as it was in Taylor's case, this version is a request that offers plenty of rhythm -- courtesy of a beatbox by Butterscotch and Paulinho Da Costa's percussion. Another standout on the set is the slow strolling version of Bill Withers' "A Telephone Call Away," with guest vocalist Lalah Hathaway in duet, Gerald Albright's saxophone, and Bobby Sparks II's B-3 all adding to the band's textural palette. Following it is an intimate small-group setting of a cover of "Someday We'll All Be Free" by Lalah's late father, Donny Hathaway. Young Southern soul singer/songwriter Marc Broussard contributes "Come in from the Cold" to the mix. Benson is accompanied by Tom Scott on saxophones, guitarist Jubu, Miller's bass, and Sparks' Hammond, embellished by some nice Rhodes work by Greg Phillinganes. The reading of Tony Joe White's "Rainy Night in Georgia" is unusual, and laden with strings, but it works because Benson doesn't try to create a definitive version of anything; he simply creates his own. There are also two fine surprises at the end of the disc: an excellent version of Smokey Robinson's "One Like You" with a large ensemble; and a downright funky take on Lamont Dozier's "Living in High Definition," which is sure to be a hit at contemporary jazz radio. Benson, Jubu, and Wah Wah Watson all contribute electric guitars, with Miller playing vibes as well as laying down layers of beats atop his own string arrangements. Benson fans should have a ball with Songs and Stories. It's consistently smooth in texture, its arrangements are elegant, and it's sequenced beautifully. [This Deluxe Package includes a bonus DVD.] ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide |
