1.
Mona Lisa
2.
Just One of Those Things
3.
Unforgettable
4.
Walkin' My Baby Back Home
5.
When I Fall in Love
6.
Route 66
7.
Nature Boy
8.
Ballerina
9.
Smile
10.
Straighten Up and Fly Right
11.
Too Young
12.
I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself A Letter
13.
Mona Lisa
George Benson - Vocals, guitar
Li'l Georgie Benson - Vocals, ukulele (track 1)
Randy Waldman - Piano
Tim May - Guitar
Chuck Bcrghofcr - Bass
Gregg Field - Drums
Michael Fisher - Percussion
Sheila E. - Percussion (track 3)
Janey Clewer, Alvin Chea, Don Chelton - Background vocals (tracks 9, 10)
Chris Papastephanou, Randy Waldman - Background vocals (track 10)
Till Brönner - Trumpet (track 9)
Judith Hill - Vocals (track 11)
Idina Mcnzel - Vocals (track 5)
Wynton Marsalis - Trumpet (track 3)
Henry Mancini lnstitute Orchestra:
Ryan Chapman, Chris Burbank, Gilbert Paz, Jared Hall - Trumpets
Chris Gagne, Kendall Moore, Stephen Szabadi, Major Bailey - Trombones
Neil Carson, Kevin McKeown - Alto saxes
Mark Small, Alex Weitz - Tenor saxes
Derek Smith - Baritone sax
Cassandra Eisenreich - Flute
Jon Anderson - French horn
Steffen Zeichner - Violin (Concertmaster, soloist)
Abby Young, Adam Diderrich, Karin O'Keefe, Zack Piper, Michelle Godbee, Patricia Jancova, Tomas Cotik, Victor Colmenares, James Reynolds, Jonah Osawa, Rob
Patrignani, Arianne Urban, Michelle Mlacker, Katrina Schaeffer - Violins
Robyn Savitzky, Kathryn Severing, Marcela Fernandez, Lauren Miller - Violas
Joy Adams, Cecilia Huerta, Andrew Kromholz, ChiaˇLi Yu, Sarah Gongaware - Cellos
Rachcl Hershey, Jeff Kipperman, Yen-ling Lin - Basses
The first track on George Benson's new CD gives an
idea of the album's aim. It captures George at the age of eight singing
Mona Lisa on a record he was able to make as the winner of
a singing contest in his home town of Pittsburgh. The young Benson
chose the song as it had been a hit for Nat "King" Cole - and this
whole album is a tribute to Cole, who was a continuing influence on
Benson.
In fact both men had similar careers - starting off primarily as jazz instrumentalists (George on guitar, Nat on piano) before becoming most famous as
vocalists. This displeased some jazz fans, as they heard less of each man's distinctive talents on their instruments, but such is the way of the music
world.
When paying tribute to an artist or a group, there are generally two possible lines one can follow. You can either try to imitate the original or put your
own stamp on their work. George Benson seems to have choosen the first method, as he often sounds very like Nat "King" Cole. Indeed, in Ballerina
he sounds more like Cole than Cole did! In other tracks, such as Just One of Those Things and Walkin' My Baby Back Home, he certainly
veers more towards the Cole style than his own.
In a way this is a pity, as the listener may feel he might as well buy an album of Nat Cole's Greatest Hits. Fortunately there are enough Bensonian touches
to remind us of George's individuality - for example, his habit of scatting in tune with a guitar solo. And there are a few short guitar solos, although I
could have done with more. The other extra quality which this album supplies is the presence of several guest artists - notably two trumpeters: Wynton
Marsalis in Unforgettable and Till Brönner in Smile. The duets with lady singers on When I Fall in Love and Too Young
are remarkably successful. Arranger Randy Waldman contributes several excellent piano solos.
The album only lasts for a bare 41 minutes, which is a shame, but there is no doubting the sincerity of George Benson's appreciation for Nat Cole.
Tony Augarde
www.augardebooks.co.uk
CD Reviews
Concord 0888072342682
