Freddie Hubbard ‎- First Light

Year : 1971
Label : CTI
Genre : Jazz
Style : Post Bop, Soul Jazz

The third CTI album released by genius trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, can be seen as the final part of a jazz trilogy including his two previous albums, "Red Clay" and "Straight Life" recorded in 1970. "First Light" is a jazz masterpiece with beautiful strings arrangements by master Don Sebesky, featuring the greatest players of their times among guitarist George Benson, bassist Ron Carter, drummer Jack DeJohnette and pianist Richard Wyands. Titles include the title-track (a replay to "Red Clay"), funky variation of the Paul McCartney's classic "Uncle Albert/Admiral Hasley", and the sweet mood of "Moment To Moment", "Yesterday's Dreams" & "Lonely Town".

George Benson - Body Talk

Year : 1973
Label : CTI
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk, Soul Jazz

"Body Talk" is a Soul Jazz album including the heavy Funk expressions of James Brown's groove featuring associated guitarist Earl Klugh, bassist Ron Carter, drummer Jack DeJohnette & pianist Harold Mabern, all conducted by the leader of the James Brown revue, Pee Wee Ellis. Titles include pure Funk/Soul tracks arranged by Pee Wee Ellis (the opening song "Dance", "Plum" & the title-track), the Soulful song by Donny Hattaway's "When Love Has Grown" and the climax "Top Of The World". All tracks composed by George Benson except the one mentioned produced by Creed Taylor, recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder. 

MUSICIANS : George Benson, Earl Klugh - guitar - Ron Carter,  Gary King  - bass - Jack DeJohnette - drums - Harold Mabern - electric piano - Mobutu - percussion - Frank Foster - tenor saxophone - Dick Griffin, Gerard Chamberlain - trombone - John Gatchell, Jon Faddis, Waymon Reed - trumpet, flugelhorn

George Benson - Beyond The Blue Horizon

Year : 1971
Label : CTI
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz, Hard Bop

First album for the CTI label, the Soul Jazz album "Beyond The Blue Horizon" is a high point in the George Benson's career featuring two rising stars of Jazz, the drummer Jack DeJohnette (from John Coltrane Quintet) and Ron Carter (Miles Davis Quintet), supported by Clarence Palmer on Hammond B3 organ, Albert Nicholson & Michael Cameron on percussion. The album showcases incredible guitar skill variations of the George Benson's guitar playing including a funky version of the great Miles Davis' jazz standard "So What?", the Luiz Bonfa's Bossa Nova tune "The Gentle Rain" and Afro-Jazz track "Somewhere To The East". All tracks produced by Creed Taylor and recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder.

Lou Donaldson - Alligator Bogaloo

Year : 1967
Label : Blue Note
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz

The essential Soul Jazz masterpiece among the most sampled album of the time, performed by the Soul Jazz saxophonist No. 1 featuring a funky combo with drummer Leo Morris (Idris Muhammad), guitarist George Benson, organist Lonnie Smith & cornestist Melvin Lastie Sr. in addition on "I Want A Little Girl". "Alligator Bogaloo" opens the R&B era of Lou Donalson to the Funk/Soul accent including the climax album "Midnight Creeper" with the same rhythm section. Titles include "One Cylinder" sampled by french rapper MC Solaar on "Qui Sème Le Vent Récolte Le Tempo" (1991) & "Superstarr" (1994), original composition by Lonnie Smith (Aw Shucks!), "The Thang", "Rev. Moses" & the title-track composed by Lou Donaldson. Recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder.

Lou Donaldson - Midnight Creeper

Year : 1968
Label : Blue Note
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz

In the continuity of Mr. Shing-A-Ling and the famous Alligator Boogaloo, Midnight Creeper embraced again the Funk style. Lou Donaldson Quintet featuring Blue Mitchell, Lonnie Smith, George Benson and Idris Muhammad where Lonnie adds his contribution (he co-written the title track with Lou) and George show us his great guitar skill in a mix up of Hard Bop improvisations & Soul Jazz served by funky arrangements. Titles include all compositions of Lou Donaldson except Love Power by Teddy Van, Bag of Jewels by Lonnie Liston Smith (the other jazz organist) & Dapper Dan by Harold Ousley. Recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder.

Lou Donaldson_altosaxophone
Blue Mitchell_cornet & trumpet
Lonnie Smith_organ
George Benson_guitar
Idris Muhammad_drums

01. Midnight Creeper
02. Love Power
03. Elizabeth
04. Bag of Jewels
05. Dapper Dan

George Benson - Bad Benson

Year : 1974
Label : CTI
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk

Bad Benson is a collection of different kind music choices as smooth and straight ahead jazz designed by George Benson, associated to Phil Upchurch collaboration and featuring rhythm section featuring Ron Carter, Steve Gadd and Kenny Barron surrounded by brass band plus strings ensemble. Titles include the funky variation of the jazz standard Take Five by Paul Desmond, two compositions of Phil Upchurch (No Sooner Said Than Done & Full Compass) and two of George (My Latin Brother & The Changing World) all arranged and conducted by Don Sebesky. Recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder, produced by Creed Taylor for CTI.

George Benson_guitar

Phil Upchurch_guitar, electric bass, percussion

Ron Carter_bass

Kenny Barron_piano

Steve Gadd_drums

01. Take Five
02. Summer Wisher, Winter Dreams (J.Mandel/A. & M. Bergman)
03. My Latin Brother
04. No Sooner Said Than Done
05. Full Compass
06. The Changing World

George Benson - White Rabbit

Year : 1971
Label : CTI
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : Fusion

A 'Gypsy' project with heavy orchestration conducted & arranged by Don Sebesky as on The Other Side Of Abbey Road. Titles include some Andalusian tunes (White Rabbit, El Mar) coupled with Straight Ahead Jazz, the trademark of CTI records. Great reprises of the standards pop' White Rabbit & California Dreaming. Earl Klugh & Jay Berliner are associated to george on accoustic guitar. The rest of the band including the finest Fusion Jazz players such as Ron Carter (bass), Herbie Hancock (electric piano), Billy Cobham (drums), Airto Moreira (percussions, vocals), Hubert Laws (flute).

01. White Rabbit
02. Theme from Summer of '42
03. Little Train (from Bachianas Brasileiras No.2)
04. California Dreaming
05. El Mar

George Benson - The Other Side Of Abbey Road

Year : 1969

Label : A&M

Genre : Jazz

Style : Jazz Funk, Fusion

George Benson revisits some iconic songs from The Beatles' last album, arranged & directed by master Don Sebesky, produced by Creed Taylor for CTI and recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder. George Benson (eg, vo) is surrounded by a golden sextet including regular CTI session musicians featuring Herbie Hancock (org, p), Bob James (el-p), Idris Muhammad (ds), Freddie Hubbard (tp), Hubert Laws (fl), Ron Carter (b, el-b) & Ray Barretto (perc), supported by strings orchestra. Titles include four medley (Golden Slumbers~You Never Give Me Your Money, Because~Come Together, Here Comes The Sun~I Want You (She's So Heavy), Something~Octopus's Garden~The End) and "Oh! Darling".

Airto Moreira - Free

Year : 1972

Label : CTI

Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : Jazz Samba, Modal

First of four discs serie recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder for the famous Creed Taylor's CTI label by brazilian percussionist, Airto Moreira, former member of jazz fusion group "Return To Forever". Airto was a sought-after artist among the Creed Taylor's session musicians, he played with others latin artists such as Hermeto Pascoal, Eumir Deodato or Gato Barbieri, cantor of Free Jazz, but also jazz legend Freddie Hubbard. The line-up is based on the "Return To Forever" band featuring leader Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Joe Farrell, Airto's wife Flora Purim, including others remarkable soloists such as George Benson, Hubert Laws & Keith Jarrett, all conducted by Don Sebesky. Titles include the tribute "Return To Forever" by Chick Corea, the "Flora's 'Purim' Song", the percussion suite "Free", "Lucky Southern" by Keith Jarrett and the jazz samba, "Creek (Arroio)" composed by Victor Brazil