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 George Benson |
 Boney James |
 George Benson |
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Story and Photos By Andy Argyrakis One of the most beloved jazz artists of all time just so happens to be one of the most successful crossover acts the style has ever seen, resulting in an exceptionally diverse audience every time he tours. Indeed, George Benson is a true gem, who isn't just prolific when it comes to singing and strumming through original material, but also covering the greats on occasion. These days, he's plugging the brand new album "Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole" (Concord), a stunning work featuring Nelson Riddle's arrangements and the 42-piece Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra.Though it wasn't possible for that entire entourage to show up at the always cozy and acoustically immaculate Chicago Theatre, the 70-year-old star and his five piece band still delivered nearly two hours of hits from the past and somewhat recent present. He wasted no time switching between playing guitar, singing and sometimes both spread across upbeat staples like "Breezin'" and "Turn Your Love Around," which fit snuggly alongside lavish ballads like "This Masquerade" and "Kisses In The Moonlight." While the Cole collection may have been off limits without the orchestra, it didn't prevent Benson from putting his signature flourishes on other covers, including a genius reworking of Michael Jackson's "The Lady In My Life" and an equally clever slow start turned revved up jam through L.T.D.'s "Love Ballad." In fact, the ten time Grammy Award winner often blurred the lines between the jazz, pop and R&B disciplines, often touching on all three in the same tune (most notably within the context "Give Me The Night"). He took a similar approach to a highly improvised "On Broadway," which even with its excessive length, still served as yet another key reminder of both Benson's remarkable nimbleness on the frets and vocal versatility at virtually every turn. Joining Benson on the ticket was Boney James, an accomplished saxophonist, songwriter and producer in his own right who thankfully strays away from the sleepy side of the dial (even if his 75-minute set could've probably been packed a bit tighter into a solid hour). The multi-platinum instrumental man is also touring behind a new project, "The Beat" (Concord), which marks his 14th long player since debuting in the contemporary jazz scene just over twenty years ago. Highlights from the project included the original "Sunset Boulevard," the Stevie Wonder remake "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing" and a Latin-laced update on Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66's "Batucada (The Beat)," all accompanied by James' suave showmanship that found him regularly working each side of the stage. He also found time to fit in a few past jams like "Contact," plus additional old school remembrances like Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine" and Rufus featuring Chaka Khan's "Sweet Thing," which cast further light on the sax man's sultry grooves as they seamlessly ran the spectrum between jazz, pop and soul just like his distinguished touring partner. |
 Boney James |
 Boney James |
 George Benson |
 George Benson |
 George Benson |
 Boney James |