Songs and stories (2009)

Benson, George (Concord Records, 30364)

NEA Jazz Master and 10X Grammy-winning legendary musician George Benson released his new album on August 25th 2009, entitled Songs and stories. The album is a collection of tunes penned by some of the most prolific and enduring songwriters of the last half-century. Some were written specifically for this new recording, such as Bill Withers (who came out of retirement to write A telephone call away for George), Show me the love by David Paich, Steve Lukather and Marcus Miller, Rod Temperton's Family reunion and Lamont Doziers Living in high definition; while others, including James Taylors Don't let me be lonely tonight, Donny Hathaway's Someday we'll all be free and Tony Joe White's Rainy night in Georgia were hand-picked by Benson for their ability to convey simple but universal truths about the human experience.

Tracklist

  1. Don't let me be lonely tonight (James Taylor)
  2. Family reunion (Colbert, Temperton)
  3. Show me the love (Lukather, Miller, Paich)
  4. A telephone call away (Bill Withers)
  5. Someday we'll all be free (Hathaway, Howard)
  6. Nuthin' but a party (Harris, Lomax, McClain, Troutman)
  7. Come in from the cold (Broussard, Foster, Tocket)
  8. Exotica (Marcus Miller)
  9. Rainy night in Georgia (White)
  10. One like you (Garfield, Smokey Robinson)
  11. Living in high definition (Lemond Dozier)
  12. Sailing (Cross)

Credits

John Acosta - Celli
Sai Ly Acosta - Violin
Gerald Albright - Saxophone
Maguinho Alcântara - Drums
Patti Austin - Vocals (bckgr)
George Benson - Guitar, Vocals, Liner Notes, Soloist
J.J. Blair - Engineer, Vocal Arrangement
Norman Brown - Guitar, Vocals
Bruno Cardozo - Keyboards, Organ (Hammond)
Susan Chatman - Violin
Ronald Clark - Violin
Paulinho Da Costa - Percussion
Joel Derouin - Violin
Charles Everett - Violin
Chuck Findley - Trumpet
David Garfield - Organ, Piano, Keyboards, Vocal Arrangement, Production Assistant
Gary Grant - Trumpet
Maurice Grants - Celli
Lalah Hathaway - Vocals
John Hayhurst - Viola
Xiao Niu He - Violin
Jerry Hey - Horn Arrangements
Gerry Hilera - Violin
Toninho Horta - Guitar (Acoustic), Associate Producer
Paul Jackson, Jr. - Guitar
Victoria Lanier - Violin
Marcelo Lima - Guitar (Acoustic)
Charles Loper - Trombone
Steve Lukather - Guitar, Producer (3)
William Magalhaes - Fender Rhodes
Marcus Miller - Organ, Bass, Percussion, Piano, Arranger, Conductor, Keyboards, Marimba, Programming, Vocals, Producer, Vibraphone, Fender Rhodes, Horn Arrangements, String Arrangements, Drum Loop
Dennis Molchan - Violin
Michael Molnau - Viola
David Paich - Keyboards, Programming, Producer, Horn Arrangements (3)
Ray Parker, Jr. - Guitar
Todor Pelev - Violin
Carolyn Perry - Vocals (bckgr)
Lori Perry - Vocals (bckgr)
Sharon Perry - Vocals (bckgr)
Robert Peterson - Concert Master
Greg Phillinganes - Piano, Keyboards, Fender Rhodes
Steve Porcaro - Synthesizer
Steve Richards - Celli
Lee Ritenour - Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric)
Kathleen Robertson - Violin
John "J.R." Robinson - Drums
Smokey Robinson - Vocal Arrangement
Robin Ross - Viola
Tom Scott - Saxophone, Horn Arrangements
Leslie O. Smith - Vocal Arrangement
Bobby Sparks - Keyboards, Organ (Hammond)
Rudolph Stein - Celli
Rod Temperton - Arranger, Keyboards, Programming
Victor Vanacore - Conductor, Horn Arrangements, String Arrangements
Wah Wah Watson - Guitar
Evan Wilson - Viola