Breezin'
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Breezin' is an album by jazz/soul guitarist George Benson.
The album marked the beginning of Benson's most successful period commercially. Breezin' topped the Pop, Jazz and R&B album charts in Billboard and spun off two hit singles, the title song (which has become a smooth jazz standard) and "This Masquerade," which was a top ten pop and R&B hit. The album itself was certified triple Platinum by the RIAA.
The album won multiple prizes in the 19th Grammy Awards (1976). Breezin' won Best Pop Instrumental Performance for Benson and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical for Al Schmitt, while "This Masquerade" won Record of the Year for Tommy LiPuma and Benson.
Gábor Szabó, a Hungarian jazz guitarist, recorded the original version of the title track Breezin', and has expressed disdain for Benson's success with his arrangement.
In 2004, Donny Osmond redid the song as Breeze On By, using the original arrangement and guitar licks and adding a vocal track.
Personnel
- George Benson - guitar, vocals
- Jorge Dalto - piano, clavinet
- Ronnie Foster - electric piano, Moog synthesizer
- Phil Upchurch - rhythm guitar
- Ralph MacDonald - percussion
- Stanley Banks - bass
- Claus Ogerman - arranger, conductor
- Harvey Mason, Sr. - drums
- Noel Newbolt - Associate Producer
See also
