George Benson
Body Talk
George Benson,
Guitar
Earl Klugh, Guitar
Ron Carter, Bass
Gary King, Electric Bass
Jack DeJohnette, Drums
Mobutu, Percussion
Harold Mabern, Electric Piano
Gerald Chamberlain, Trombone
Dick Griffin, Trombone
Jon Faddis, Trumpet
John Gatchell, Trumpet
Waymon Reed, Tenor Sax
Frank Foster, Tenor Sax
Arranged and Conducted
by Pee Wee Ellis
Produced by 
Recorded at Van Gelder Studios
Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Rudy Van Gelder, Engineer
Recorded July 17 & 18 1973
Catalog Number: EK 86147
Format: CD
Release Date: 2002
Label: CTI/Sony
Also Available:
 George Benson - T-shirt - Click Here!
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Reviews
Before his “The Masquerade”
breakthrough turned George Benson into – in the public's imagination, at
least – an R&B vocalist who happened to play guitar, he was merely a superb
jazz guitarist. Not that the various recording companies he had earlier
signed with knew quite what to do with him. His tenure with CTI found him
turning towards funkier regions, prime evidence of which can be found on
Body Talk, his third album for the label. Benson does exhibit more than
a touch of R&B flavoring here, but he's also surrounded by accomplished
jazz players, including second (acoustic) guitarist Earl Klugh, drummer
Jack DeJohnette, bassist Ron Carter, and Harold Mabern on electric piano.
For his part, Benson sounds great, pouring out plenty of quicksilver runs
and octave chording that in his masterly hands always comes off perfectly
poised and relaxed (check out his workout on “Plum” for starters; “Top of
the World” exhibits his brilliant blend of flash and mellow cool). This
reissue also contains an alternate take of the title track.
– William
Pearl
With an eye and ear on what
was happening on the soul charts – James Brown in particular – Benson
made a decided swerve towards R&B on this release. Indeed, the JB's Pee
Wee Ellis turns up as a big band arranger on three tracks, and he no doubt
had a direct influence on the distinct JB groove of one of the non-big
band tunes, “Dance.” It should come as no surprise by now that this formidable
guitarist has no problem handling any kind of groove, although the mixed
rhythm section of Jack DeJohnette, Ron Carter, electric pianist Harold
Mabern, and percussionist Mobutu sometimes sends mixed signals. Earl Klugh
has a few tasty moments of his own, and there are some reconnaissance
flights back to the jazz side of George, which he handles with his usual
confident aplomb. [The 2002 reissue features crisp remastering, re-orders
the tracks and has a new mix of the alternate version of “Body Talk”]
To people born in the '70s,
George Benson is a polished pop star. But this 1973 Creed Taylor-produced
recording shows his straight-ahead jazz roots and his guitar debt to the
great guitarist Charlie Christian. WIth bassist Ron Carter, drummer Jack
DeJohnette, keyboardist Harold Mabern, and saxophonist Frank Foster, Benson
digs into some lean and mean swinging. He lays down some in-the-pocket
lines on Latin-flavored tunes like "Dance" and "Plum." The title track
and its alternate take move with a disco beat, and the midtempo "Top of
the World" displays more of Benson's fancy fretwork. For George Benson's
younger fans, this rerelease is an amazing discovery. For older jazz heads,
it's a beautiful blast from his soulful past.
–
Eugene Holly, Jr.
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George Benson
Creed with George
George Benson
Photos by Chuck Stewart |
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