Bad Benson - George Benson (1974)
ideated from: 1974 was a great year for jazz
Benson blended his jazz sensibilities with an ear for melody and a willingness to cross over markets with soul, R&B, funk, and pop. That’s earned him a bit of a rep, his name being synonymous with “cheese” according to some. But that’s not being fair to his excellence on the guitar.
The lead track here is a fat and funky version of Paul Desmond’s big hit with Dave Brubeck, Take Five.
Guitarist Phil Upchurch plays on the session as well, and also brings two of his own compositions as two of the best tracks, No Sooner Said Than Done and Full Compass.
Benson’s own compositions, My Latin Brother and The Changing World, break up the funk with some calmer relief.
Benson’s next album, Breezin’, would score him a #1 mutliplatinum album and gain him uncontested entry into the canon of grocery store music. This was a step in the same direction.
