It's Uptown

構成数 : 1枚
合計収録時間 : 01:01:17
Personnel: George Benson (vocals, guitar), Ron Cuber (baritone saxophone), Lonnie Smith (organ), Jimmy Lovelace (drums). Reissue producer: John Snyder. Recorded in New York on February 9 & March 15, 1966. Originally released on cassette on Columbia Records (746409325). Includes liner notes by Chris Albertson. All tracks have been digitally remastered. This is part of the Columbia Jazz Contemporary Masters series. Personnel: George Benson (vocals, guitar); Ronnie Cuber (baritone saxophone); Blue Mitchell (trumpet); Lonnie Smith (organ); Charlie Persip, Ray Lucas, Jimmy Lovelace (drums). Recorded in 1966. Includes liner notes by George Benson. All tracks have been digitally remastered. While George Benson's solid jazz reputation supposedly rests on his early John Hammond-produced Columbia albums, one listen to this disc will reveal that his interests roamed widely from the beginning. Yes, there is plenty of straightforward bop playing here, with Benson stretching his technical chops on "Hello Birdie" and "Myna Bird Blues" and ruminating thoughtfully on "Willow Weep for Me." But Benson also had an interest in quasi-rock & roll, producing Wes-like octaves on "Young Jaguar," and some Bo Diddley-in-Spain rhythm chording on "Bullfight." The young Benson sounds pure and mellifluous on three vocal numbers, the basic elements of his later successes mostly in place. Yet Benson's backing combo doesn't click on all cylinders; Lonnie Smith is reliable on organ but Ronnie Cuber's blunt baritone sax is rather cumbersome here. ~ Richard S. Ginell
録音 : ステレオ (Studio)