GEORGE BENSON: BREEZIN'
Breezin' is really not so much a breakthrough as it is a transition album; the guitar is still the core of his identity. All of a sudden, George Benson became a pop superstar with this album, thanks to its least representative track. Most of Breezin' is a softer-focused variation of Benson's R&B/jazz-flavored CTI work, his guitar as assured and fluid as ever with Claus Ogerman providing the suave orchestral backdrops and his crack then-working band (including Ronnie Foster on keyboards and sparkplug Phil Upchurch on rhythm guitar) pumping up the funk element. Breezin' remains an easily accessible introduction to jazz newbies.
Tracklist:
1.Breezin' 2.This Masquerade 3.Six To Four 4.Affirmation 5.So This Is Love 6.Lady
Lineup:
George Benson - guitar, vocals, Jorge Dalto - acoustic piano, clavinet, acoustic piano solo (2), Ronnie Foster - electric piano, Minimoog synthesizer, mini-Moog solo (3), electric piano solo (5), Phil Upchurch - rhythm guitar, bass (1,3), Stanley Banks - bass (2,4–6), Harvey Mason - drums, Ralph MacDonald - percussion, Claus Ogerman - arrangements and conductor