"He's good, but can he swing like Benson?"

Yngtchie Blacksteen

Yngtchie Blacksteen

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Yeah, I've made the mistake of reading old forum posts, Gambale forum in particular, and I came to think about this old saying over at GJ in days of yore.

So what albums are you old-timers referring to when talking about Benson's great rhythmic feel and whatnot? I'm keen on getting some new inspiration, playing-wise.
 
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This is my favorite George Benson album:

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1455638159.579671.jpg


It's not really about "swing" as it is playing the best feel you can that's appropriate to the music.

People get too caught up in sayings like that, I think.

If you listen to more contemporary jazz there is less emphasis on a traditional swing feel but the concept is the same. You need to make the music feel good on a subdivisional level. When players "try" to swing it usually sounds forced and uncomfortable.

I also like Bensons' playing in Stanley Turrentines "Sugar" album.

I've been listening lately to a lot of Jim Hall with the Art Farmer quartet, too.

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Nice! I was listening to mostly '70s Benson today, like Bad Benson and Good King Bad, and I thought they were mostly cool. Will head on to your recommendation now.

And yeah, I think I get what you're saying about the whole 'swing' thing. More about having a rhythm and feel that works naturally for the music, which is probably one of the best ways to tell if a non-jazzer is playing. Or so I've been told...
 
Who said that at GJ? I'm assuming Wes Powell?

Benson is, and always has been, a monster player. An uber-elite Wes Montgomery-style player.

But that's not evidenced on record, for the most part. The man can sing and perform pop music, so that's what he's done. I don't begrudge him having a big house and not having to worry about the bills.

But the downside of that, I guess, is that he doesn't have much recorded legacy as a jazz musician. Certainly not as an original or innovator.
 
Wes, sure, but I've seen it from others as well. Scott Lerner, I think, said similar things back in the day. Not saying these guys are, or were, leading authorities on what's good guitar playing, but I did find the constant mentions of Benson to be interesting. The underlying arrogance was also peculiar.

I haven't actually heard any of Benson's post-Breezin' work, mostly just various vids from the '70s and early '80s that I thought were rad, neat and swell.
 
Ok, rather than the whole album, take a few minutes and listen to this one piece if you care to.

One of the quieter pieces, but to me it is captivating. Not sure I would say it swings in the sense I think of when I think of the term.




EDIT: As I listen, I note it has "shreddy" parts to it in places, which is interesting given my thread about the Vai and co. shred show which I am not so interested in. This, however, I like. Something about the chord voicings, note choices, classic tone, etc. attracts me.
 
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