George Benson - Songs and Stories

Title: Songs and Stories Artist: George Benson Release Date: 8/25/2009 Label: Concord/Monster Music, Concord UPCs: 888072303645, 0888072303645 Genre: Jazz Styles: Jazz-Pop, Contemporary Jazz, Crossover Jazz, Quiet Storm, Smooth Jazz Moods: Elegant, Intimate, Laid-Back/Mellow, Refined/Mannered, Soothing, Sophisticated, Amiable/Good-Natured, Gentle, Reserved, Stylish, Earthy, Energetic, Playful, Rollicking, Romantic Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 0 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
2. Family Reunion
3. Show Me the Love
4. A Telephone Call Away
5. Someday We'll All Be Free
6. Nuthin' But a Party
7. Come in from the Cold
8. Exotica
9. Rainy Night in Georgia
10. One Like You
11. Living in High Definition
12. Sailing

Year Type Label Catalog # 2009 CD Concord/Monster Music 30364 2009 CD Concord

Songs and Stories [Bonus DVD] [Deluxe Package]

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. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide

Name Credits Aaron Walk Assistant Engineer Bobby Sparks Organ (Hammond), Keyboards Bruno Cardozo Organ (Hammond), Keyboards Butterscotch Beat Box Carolyn Perry Vocals (Background) Charles Everett Violin Charles Loper Trombone Chuck Findley Trumpet David Garfield Keyboards, Production Assistant, Organ, Vocal Arrangement, Piano David Paich Horn Arrangements, Keyboards, Programming, Producer Dennis Molchan Violin Don Murray Mixing, Engineer Doug Sax Mastering Evan Wilson Viola Forest Sprague Associate Producer Gary Grant Trumpet George Benson Liner Notes, Soloist, Guitar, Vocals Gerald Albright Saxophone Gerry Hilera Violin Greg Allen Photography, Package Design Greg Phillinganes Keyboards, Piano, Fender Rhodes Guilherme Canaes Engineer J.J. Blair Engineer, Vocal Arrangement Jeff Harris Engineer Jerry Hey Horn Arrangements Joel Derouin Violin John "J.R." Robinson Drums John Acosta Celli John Burk Producer, Executive Producer John Hayhurst Viola John Wroble Engineer Karl Egan Music Preparation Kathleen Robertson Violin Lalah Hathaway Vocals Larissa Collins Art Direction Lee Ritenour Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric) Leslie O. Smith Vocal Arrangement Lori Perry Vocals (Background) Maguinho Alcântara Drums Marcelo Lima Guitar (Acoustic) Marcus Miller Fender Rhodes, Conductor, Organ, Piano, Arranger, Producer, Drum Loop, Percussion, Marimba, Vocals, Programming, String Arrangements, Vibraphone, Bass, Keyboards, Horn Arrangements Martin Cooke Assistant Engineer Mary Hogan A&R Maurice Grants Celli Michael Molnau Viola Michael O'Neil/Kenny Washington Associate Producer Michele Aristy Assistant Mike Vaccaro Contractor Noël Lee Wind Chimes, Executive Producer Noel Zancanella Engineer Norman Brown Guitar, Vocals Patti Austin Vocals (Background), Vocals Paul "Scooby" Smith Assistant Engineer Paul Jackson, Jr. Guitar Paulinho Da Costa Percussion Ray Parker, Jr. Guitar Robert Peterson Concert Master Robin Ross Viola Rod Temperton Arranger, Programming, Keyboards Ronald Clark Violin Rudolph Stein Celli Sai Ly Acosta Violin Sangwook "Sunny" Nam Mastering Seth Presant Engineer Sharon Perry Vocals (Background) Smokey Robinson Vocal Arrangement Steve Barri Cohen Assistant Engineer Steve Lukather Guitar, Producer Steve Porcaro Synthesizer Steve Richards Celli Susan Chatman Violin Taka Honda Engineer Todor Pelev Violin Tom Scott Horn Arrangements, Saxophone Tom Syrowski Assistant Engineer Toninho Horta Associate Producer, Guitar (Acoustic) Victor Vanacore Horn Arrangements, Conductor, String Arrangements Victoria Lanier Violin Wah Wah Watson Guitar Will Brown Assistant Engineer William Magalhaes Fender Rhodes Xiao Niu He Violin