Benson is as well known and respected for his singing and songwriting as his phenomenal guitar playing. One of the few guys just as comfortable playing Hard Jazz as he is signing and performing his many Soul/R&B hits.
The world sure would be a better place if it had more people in it like George Benson! One of the greatest jazz and popular musicians of all time, but an even better human being. How refreshing to run across someone so kind, compassionate and full of life, humor and vitality. And not a bad word about anyone. A real gentleman.
George is one of the most down to earth musicians that I ever met beside the late Jimmy Smith! I never met Wes Montgomery, who lived in my home town when he was playing at a club there. I was 17 or 18. Later I did meet Buddy Montgomery because I was working at a school where we had jazz concerts put on by the music teacher, I hated that music teacher who was a jealous musician! He knew I played guitar and he never invited me to play on the school concerts, we were co workers! I think he was aware that if Buddy heard me that Buddy would ask me to play. After all I liked Wes Montgomery's playing, I got pretty good on the guitar at the age of 30.
Love how the pieces come together. I was listening to Freddy Robinson with John Mayall and somebody told me I needed to check out Benson. I bought Body Talk around 73/74, never looked back. Met him once, true gentleman.
I held George Benson's orange juice once !! 😅 Yes, he was part of a guitar extravaganza in Miami sometime in the 60's. I hung around to get his autograph and he had me me hold the juice while he signed. The only other musicians I remember from that show are Booker T. and the MGs and Tal Farlow. It was a pretty big deal for me but I had a painful canker sore on my tongue and could hardly talk.
George is a good enough talker that you don’t really need an interviewer who borders on being fawning. I’ve been watching these different interview segments and unless I missed it haven’t heard him talk about being able or not being able to read music.
I met George many years ago in NYC. He sat with a few of us and chatted for a while - very friendly guy. He mentioned that he'd like to work on his reading, as it wasn't his strong suit. I said: "George, if I could play like you, I wouldn't worry about my reading!". He replied: "Oh, I'm not worried about it, I'd just like to work on it!".
@@charleswinokoor6023 There have been many great players who either didn't read or weren't strong readers (Wes Montgomery, Erroll Garner, Cornell Dupree, Johnny Hodges, etc.), but reading is without a doubt a very valuable musical skill. The people I mentioned had such great ears and musical ability that they managed to have wonderful careers as musical artists.
Joe Negri Is the guitar player George could'nt remember. I'm from pittsburgh and had the opportunity to hear some of the same players , except for Wes?
George seems a beautiful person as well as being a fantastic player. Nothing about Pat Martino in this vid. Maybe it got cut from the end. Anyway, Pat is, for me the master of modern jazz guitar. Sadly, Pat is ill just now and needs our help. He has a GoFundMe page to support his medical and living expenses
Here he was talking about his early influences. Pat is younger than Benson, so he doesn't consider him an early influence although he admires his work. I remember him saying in some other video that when he first saw Pat playing at a club in New York he was blown away and he couldn't believe it was "that kid" playing.
Jimmy Smith treated his first guitar players like subhumans (rightly so, they were nothing to write home), just until he met Wes Montgomery. Their 2 albums are great... Jimmy taking the back seat in fact... And Mr.Benson... he played with McDuff, in early 60s, with a 1960 Les Paul, now that were some great sounds. Then he sold out to Ibanez.... ok, we all must make a living ☺ Later I bought one of his records, from 80s I think... just for his admiration for Wes.. I played it twice, now it is buried in my stash of vinyls never to be played again, so sorry..
@@skiadikt Nor me. Pat, to me, is the master of modern jazz playing. Sadly, he is ill just now and needs our help. He has a GoFundMe page to support his medical and living expenses
Benson is as well known and respected for his singing and songwriting as his phenomenal guitar playing. One of the few guys just as comfortable playing Hard Jazz as he is signing and performing his many Soul/R&B hits.
Ofcourse George is top notch classic all over and always and again. Ever. forever.
Benson’s inner light is still shining BRIGHT.
The importance of this interview cannot be overestimated. Given George’s historic position in music, this is pure gold.
People that knew benson as a kid always said he was great singer, guitarist, and dancer.
Actually he’s talking about the great Joe Negri whom I got to know producing the Mellon Jazz Festival. Wonderful guy and a great player.
The world sure would be a better place if it had more people in it like George Benson! One of the greatest jazz and popular musicians of all time, but an even better human being. How refreshing to run across someone so kind, compassionate and full of life, humor and vitality. And not a bad word about anyone. A real gentleman.
George Benson is my idol since ...43 years. I saw him at concert in Paris 15 years ago. He is definitely the best
Not only is GB one of the greatest guitar players of all time, he's also a gifted story teller.. I could listen to him all day 💚
Jody is a MONSTER player, and a great interviewer. If anyone can keep up with GB’s playing, it’s him.
me too
What a delightful man!!! One of the best guitarists ever.
Blew my little mind in the 70s and still amazed by him. These interviews show him to be a wonderful man as well. Thank you George!!!
That's the features of genuine stars
George Benson is one of the all time greatest guitar players to walk the Earth!! He is without a doubt the greatest!! ❤❤❤
Great storyteller too, I could listen for hours.
Encouraged to become a jazz great by Wes Montgomerys brother. That's jazz royalty right there.
Love this channel!!
George is one of the most down to earth musicians that I ever met beside the late Jimmy Smith! I never met Wes Montgomery, who lived in my home town when he was playing at a club there. I was 17 or 18. Later I did meet Buddy Montgomery because I was working at a school where we had jazz concerts put on by the music teacher, I hated that music teacher who was a jealous musician! He knew I played guitar and he never invited me to play on the school concerts, we were co workers! I think he was aware that if Buddy heard me that Buddy would ask me to play. After all I liked Wes Montgomery's playing, I got pretty good on the guitar at the age of 30.
Great, Great Artist.
Man, I love George Benson, and these stories are great. Thank you so much for posting.
Thanks so much for posting these gems!
Could you imagine hearing Pat martino and George benson doing a concert where they play jazz standards? 😎🐐🐐
That’s what my question is why he never played together!
totally awesome interview
Love how the pieces come together. I was listening to Freddy Robinson with John Mayall and somebody told me I needed to check out Benson. I bought Body Talk around 73/74, never looked back. Met him once, true gentleman.
Great interview!
Joe Negri is the guitarist from Pittsburgh he was thinking of. He appeared on Mr. Rogers' as "Handyman Negri."
The Handyman!
Joe Negri is a GREAT player !
I held George Benson's orange juice once !! 😅
Yes, he was part of a guitar extravaganza in Miami sometime in the 60's. I hung around to get his autograph and he had me me hold the juice while he signed. The only other musicians I remember from that show are Booker T. and the MGs and Tal Farlow. It was a pretty big deal for me but I had a painful canker sore on my tongue and could hardly talk.
It's cool seeing my cousin Jody......my father was his first guitar teacher....
That’s a cool story.
ha that's badass. pops must be a master
continue
Their is a video of George playing with jack mcduff at a festival in the sixties , and already he was really an advanced player
Always wanted to know about Benson's early beginnings I'm sure there's much more he could say.
Benson’mom really cared about education of little George !
seems like a really cool guy
The coolest cat ever
If you don't dig George Benson...you ain't a guitar player.
Yeah, there's ONE George, as GREAT as he is I'd rather cultiuvate my gift and be MYSELF !
Amen to that!
holy this's epic video！
Joe Diorio was in Chicago just as George said
The other Joe was Joe Negri, who was a fabulous jazz guitar player.
More George Benson Videos in the description.
Thornel Schwartz played on some early Larry Young records. Would play two note chords made up of just the 3rd and 7th.
Pat Martino wasn't mentioned here.
George is a good enough talker that you don’t really need an interviewer who borders on being fawning.
I’ve been watching these different interview segments and unless I missed it haven’t heard him talk about being able or not being able to read music.
I met George many years ago in NYC. He sat with a few of us and chatted for a while - very friendly guy. He mentioned that he'd like to work on his reading, as it wasn't his strong suit. I said: "George, if I could play like you, I wouldn't worry about my reading!". He replied: "Oh, I'm not worried about it, I'd just like to work on it!".
@@georgenaha1001 Even though he didn't "need it" he knew it is still part of being a professional musician, which is to his credit.
@@charleswinokoor6023 There have been many great players who either didn't read or weren't strong readers (Wes Montgomery, Erroll Garner, Cornell Dupree, Johnny Hodges, etc.), but reading is without a doubt a very valuable musical skill. The people I mentioned had such great ears and musical ability that they managed to have wonderful careers as musical artists.
@@georgenaha1001 and Tal Farlow
I love Jody fisher:)
I’m currently working through his jazz series. I love his major scale shapes
Joe Negri Is the guitar player George could'nt remember. I'm from pittsburgh and had the opportunity to hear some of the same players , except for Wes?
He's talking about Joe Negri
Joe Negri, is the Philadelphia guitarist he is talking about
Joe DIORIO learned a lot frm vincent Bredice. miami dade jr, college.
No mention of Pat Martino here.
I don’t know why :/?
George seems a beautiful person as well as being a fantastic player. Nothing about Pat Martino in this vid. Maybe it got cut from the end. Anyway, Pat is, for me the master of modern jazz guitar. Sadly, Pat is ill just now and needs our help. He has a GoFundMe page to support his medical and living expenses
Here he was talking about his early influences. Pat is younger than Benson, so he doesn't consider him an early influence although he admires his work. I remember him saying in some other video that when he first saw Pat playing at a club in New York he was blown away and he couldn't believe it was "that kid" playing.
where did you find this ?
Interesting note, in British slang the word "towel" is also a synonym for sledgehammer.
7:05 💀💀💀
Joe Negri is who Benson is talking about.
Classic Benson lick @ :8:05-07.
Im not gay but i love u goerge
How could anyone not love this man. He’s amazing
Joe Negri
Joe Negri...
Jimmy Smith treated his first guitar players like subhumans (rightly so, they were nothing to write home), just until he met Wes Montgomery. Their 2 albums are great... Jimmy taking the back seat in fact... And Mr.Benson... he played with McDuff, in early 60s, with a 1960 Les Paul, now that were some great sounds. Then he sold out to Ibanez.... ok, we all must make a living ☺ Later I bought one of his records, from 80s I think... just for his admiration for Wes.. I played it twice, now it is buried in my stash of vinyls never to be played again, so sorry..
Sold out to Ibanez? He seems to have got in pretty well with his GB series for the last 40 years. Have you ever played one?
Pat Martino? Maybe I missed it.
never heard it either.
@@skiadikt Nor me. Pat, to me, is the master of modern jazz playing. Sadly, he is ill just now and needs our help. He has a GoFundMe page to support his medical and living expenses
🤔👎
......JOE NEGRI
joe neghri!
Joe Negri