Big Boss Band
| Big Boss Band | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by George Benson | ||||
| Released | 1990 | |||
| Recorded | Clinton Recording Studio and The Power Station, New York City; CTS Studios Ltd., Wembley, England (track 7) | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 41:48 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. | |||
| Producer | George Benson for Broadway Productions, Al Schmitt (co-producer on track 7) | |||
| George Benson chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Big Boss Band | ||||
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Big Boss Band is the 1990 studio album of George Benson on Warner Bros. featuring the Count Basie Orchestra. This is Benson's second consecutive album which returns to his jazz roots after his successful pop career in the 1980s, and also his debut as sole producer of an album.[1] The genre is mainly big band swing with some Michel Legrand and R&B thrown in.
Concept
In his liner notes, Benson writes that in 1983 he made a promise to Count Basie "to do his (Basie's) music justice" on an album such as Big Boss Band. He continues: "The spirit of the Basie Legacy permeated these sessions as I approached each one (song) in the way I believed the Count would have wanted." He thanks to Frank Foster III for his contribution and notes that he "was Basie's only choice" to arrange this album.[1]
Reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   |
The album was criticized by jazz writers for not being jazzy enough, for the vocal performance and for not being able to grab the opportunity of making a jazz classic.[3][4]
Awards
Frank Foster received Grammy Award for his arrangement of George Benson’s composition “Basie’s Bag” (Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band, 1990).[5]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Without a Song" | Vincent Youmans, Edward Eliscu, William Rose | 4:09 |
| 2. | "Ready Now That You Are" | Frank Foster | 5:50 |
| 3. | "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" | Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, Michel Legrand | 5:00 |
| 4. | "On Green Dolphin Street" | Bronislau Kaper, Ned Washington | 4:09 |
| 5. | "Baby Workout" | Jackie Wilson, Alonzo Tucker | 3:52 |
| 6. | "I Only Have Eyes for You" | Harry Warren, Al Dubin | 2:52 |
| 7. | "Portrait of Jennie" | J. Russel Robinson, Gordon Budge | 4:23 |
| 8. | "Walkin' My Baby Back Home" | Fred Ahlert, Roy Turk | 3:01 |
| 9. | "Skylark" | Johnny Mercer, Hoagy Carmichael | 5:06 |
| 10. | "Basie's Bag" | George Benson | 2:59 |
Personnel[6]
Musicians:
- George Benson - guitar, vocals (1, 3-9)
Count Basie Orchestra (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10):
- Clarence Banks - trombone
- Carl "Ace" Carter - piano
- George Cohn - trumpet
- Cleveland Eaton - bass
- Frank Foster III - arrangements (1-5, 8, 9, 10), tenor saxophone, tenor sax solo (2)
- David Glasser - alto saxophone, alto sax solo (2)
- Kenneth Hing - tenor saxophone
- William Hughes - bass trombone
- Duffy Jackson - drums
- Charlton Johnson - guitar
- Doug Miller - tenor saxophone
- Bob Ojeda - trumpet, backup trumpet solo (2), arrangements (6)
- Byron Stripling - trumpet, backup trumpet solo (4)
- Danny Turner - alto saxophone
- Melvin Wanzo - trombone
- Johnny Williams - baritone saxophone
- Mike Williams - trumpet
- Tim Williams - trombone
Additional Musicians:
- Carmen Bradford - vocals (3)
- Terry Burrus - keyboards (5)
- Ron Carter - bass (3)
- Barry J. Eastmond - piano, keyboards (3)
- Bashiri Johnson - percussion (5)
- Ralph MacDonald - percussion (5)
- Richard Tee - keyboard bass (5)
- David Witham - keyboards (5)
New York Horns (5):
- Randy Brecker - trumpet
- Jon Faddis - trumpet
- Larry Farrell - trombone
- Paul Faulise - trombone
- Earl Gardner - trumpet
- Keith O'Quinn - trombone
- James Pugh - trombone
- Lewis Soloff - trumpet
Robert Farnon Orchestra (7):
- Robert Farnon - arrangements[1]
- uncredited UK musicians[1]
Technical:
- Greg Calbi - mastering
- Emile Charlap - musical contractor
- Peter Darmi - recording
- Russ Defilippis - production assistant for Broadway Productions
- Mary Ann Dibs - art direction
- Robert Hakalski - photography
- Ken Fritz Management, L.A. - direction
- Robin Lynch - grooming
- Ed Rak - mixing
- Dave Russell - additional recording
- Elliot Scheiner - recording
- Al Schmitt - recording, mixing
- Lucrecia Snead - project administrator
- Michon C. Stanco - album package coordinator
- Lorna Stovall - design
- Jeff Toone - additional recording
- Alexander White - styling
- Aaron Woodward - musical contractor
Charts
| Chart (1990) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Top Contemporary Jazz Albums[7] | 3 |
References
- 1 2 3 4 as in Benson's personal liner notes
- ↑ "Big Boss Band - George Benson - Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
- ↑ "JAZZ / ALBUM REVIEWS : Benson, Mathis Pay Tribute to Count Basie, Ellington". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
- ↑ "Big Boss Band (George Benson)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
- ↑ "Past Winners Search". The GRAMMYs. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
- ↑ as on album cover
- ↑ Benson, George. Billboard Albums at AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-04-14.
