George Benson - Live At Montreux 1986 (2005) [Repost]

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George Benson - Live At Montreux 1986 (2005) [Repost]

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This concert is a lot of fun for those who want to enjoy George Benson interpreting pop and smooth jazz. He's exciting, and he really gets into his songs. Solid vocals and smooth instrumentals carry the audience through moderate romps and lush ballads that focus on the leader from every angle.
Synchronized horns, varied percussion textures, throbbing electric bass and rhythm guitar surround Benson with layers of consonant harmony and mellow rhythms. The Montreux audience loved it. One look at the instrumentation and you can see that he came to Switzerland fully loaded.
Benson sings 11 of the 15 songs and plays thrilling improvised guitar on the rest. Take your pick. He's fun to watch doing it both ways.
Dressed in black, sleeveless, with red and white ID neckwear and pendants, Benson appeals to a broad audience. He keeps the band in check, making sure that they maintain a supporting role for his starring performance. And it works. Phrasing proves seamless, balance remains spot-on, and the leader gives his audience what they came for.
Love Ballad features Benson's trademark vocal scatting with guitar. Nobody does it better. Like most jazz fans, I prefer his wordless vocals with unison guitar over his pop vocals. His "Beyond the Sea pales compared to Bobby Darin's original. Nevertheless, seeing Benson's face light up as he delivers those memorable lyrics has a powerful effect on everyone who is watching.

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George Benson - Live At Montreux 1986 (2005) [Repost]

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