In Concert -- Carnegie Hall is
George Benson's final recording for
Creed Taylor's CTI label, and was mostly recorded on one night in 1975. There was some additional recording done at
Rudy Van Gelder's studio in 1976, where
Taylor replaced the original rhythm section of
Wayne Dockery on bass and
Marvin Chapell on drums with
Will Lee and
Steve Gadd, for whatever reason
Taylor had at the time. Regardless, this is a solid "live" effort with
Benson cooking on all burners, beginning with a monster version of
Dave Brubeck's "Take Five," which had been cut on an earlier album and had become a staple in the live set. Organist
Ronnie Foster's backing skills here are indispensable, as they keep
Benson talking to the other members of the band. The version of "Summertime" here could have been recorded by
Phil Spector. The concert version of the tune -- on which
Benson takes a vocal -- has been added to with the substitution of the rhythm section and the later addition of a string orchestra in the studio. (Perhaps
Taylor understood
Benson's crossover appeal; he would cross over into the pop charts on Warner the next year with "This Masquerade.") The crowd dug it, but it's simply OK over the test of time. Hipper is the long snaky groove of
Benson's own "Gone," with begins with the steady pulse of
Hubert Laws playing a counterpoint foil on flute. The entwining harmonic interplay between the two is gorgeous and goes on for over ten minutes. The band then takes on
Freddie Hubbard's "Sky Dive" with real aplomb. The Latin rhythm and slippery guitar by
Benson pull the rhythm section up a notch before he begins the head. His funky articulation of fifths and then eighths in his break is mesmerizing. The way
Chapell rides the cymbal like a bell is particularly satisfying. The album closes on another
Benson original with
Laws popping in again. It's called "Octane." Over ten minutes in length, it begins with
Benson in full roar before the time signature changes and triples, feeling like a bebop tune more than anything else.
Foster keeps it all grounded, but this baby swings so hard it threatens to lift off. In retrospect, listening to this record in the 21st century, it's difficult to imagine
Benson making the switch from a classy guitar firebrand to a pop star so quickly. Mosaic Contemporary has brought out a fine remastered edition on CD. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
