On August 25th, Legendary musician George Benson will release his new project, Songs and Stories.
*At various points along the four-decade continuum of George Benson’s career, he has been heralded as a jazz guitarist of unparalleled chops, a vocalist with great emotional range and sophistication or a combination of both. However, he regards himself as an entertainer in the broadest sense of the word – a singer of songs, a spinner of tales. That’s the essence, Songs and Stories.
“It’s a very simple equation,” the National Endowment of the Arts Jazz Master says of the longevity of his career and the ten Grammy Awards that have punctuated it along the way. “In the end, it’s about the songs and the stories. That’s what keeps the music fresh for me. That’s what keeps me coming back. If you come up with a great melody and put the right lyrics to it, I’m immediately excited.”
That excitement is evident in his new release, Songs and Stories, due August 25, 2009, on Concord Records / Monster Music. The album is a collection of tunes penned by some of the most prolific and enduring songwriters of the last half-century, including James Taylor, Smokey Robinson, Lamont Dozier, Bill Withers, Donny Hathaway and several others. Some were written specifically for this new recording, while others were hand-picked by Benson for their ability to convey simple but universal truths about the human experience.
*taken from George Benson bio.
TRACK LISTING:
1. Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight – (James Taylor)
2. Family Reunion – (Rod Temperton-Catero Colbert)
3. Show Me the Love – (David Paich-Steve Lukather)
4. A Telephone Call Away – (Bill Withers)
5. Someday We’ll All Be Free – (Donny Hathaway-Ed Howard)
6. Nuthin’ But a Party – (Roger Troutman-Larry Troutman-Marlon McClain-Robert Harris-Christopher Lomax)
7. Come in From the Cold – (Marc Broussard-Radney Foster-Justin Tocket)
8. Exotica – (Marcus Miller)
9. Rainy Night in Georgia – (Tony Joe White)
10. One Like You – (William “Smokey” Robinson-David Garfield)
11. Living in High Definition – (Lamont Dozier)
12.Sailing – (Christopher Cross)
You can purchase Songs and Stories here.
