George Benson - Absolutely Live (DTS)

Starring:George Benson
Studio: Geneon [Pioneer]
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Toward the beginning of his 90-minute set recorded on May 27, 2000, in Belfast, Ireland, George Benson gushes that he's always had a fantasy of fronting a big band and covering jazz classics. It becomes increasingly clear, however, that some fantasies should remain just that. There's no questioning Benson's contribution to jazz over the years. He's been hailed as one of the genre's finest, most expressive, and fluid guitarists. His ability to cross numerous genres is impeccable and he's influenced a generation of players. However when Benson ditches his guitar in favor of singing--something he started doing in the '70s and does frequently during this show--his material suffers. While his vocal range is impressive on songs like "I Only Have Eyes for You" and on his own hits like "This Masquerade" and "Breezin'," his style is awkward and often forced, and his numerous attempts at scat singing prove that Louis Armstrong he's not. Experiments are fine, but Benson should remember what instrument brought him to the dance. --Dave McCoy

Description

George Benson performs with his group during his Northern Ireland tour. This concert was filmed just months ago, on Sunday, May 28th, 2000 at the Belfast Waterfront Hall in Belfast. George Benson performs with his group featuring special guest Joe Sample, the BBC Big Band and members of the Ulster Orchestra. Songs on this live recording include "This Masquerade", "Breezin'", "Give Me The Night", "On Broadway", "Turn Your Love Around", "I Only Have Eyes For You", "Hippin' The Hop", "Danny Boy", "Deeper Than You Think", "Love x Love", "Never Give Up on a Good Thing", "Moody's Mood", "In Your Eyes", and more. The George Benson group is: George Benson - Guitar/Vocals; Joe Sample - Keyboards; Stanley Banks - Bass Guitar; Thomas Hall - Keyboards; Michael O'Neill - Guitar/Vocals; Dennis Saucedo - Pecussion/Vocals; Michael White - Drums; David William - Musical Director and Piano.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing.......2007-07-04

Unfortunately on this DVD, Benson seems to have been an addition to the BBC Big band /Orchestra rather than the other way round. The male drummer and 2nd guitarist are the only backing singers and are absolutely useless at it, completely unable to reach the highs most notably in "Give me the night" which just sound ridiculous. Bizarrely it looks like someone thought it would be a good idea to have middle aged women dancing in the front, one of whom cringemakingly gets up on stage bumping and grinding while Benson struggles to carry on not knowing what she is going to do next. Benson looks like a fish out of water throughout the whole thing and just plays completely unenthusiastically, looking like he can't wait to finish it. AVOID this, get the Montreux DVD and hope for a new tour and accompanying DVD a LOT better than this one!!

Rebuttal.......2007-02-28

"I'm never gonna drive my Ferrari again - not after that bug hit the windshield".
OK, there is a brief - maybe 30 seconds long - incident with a probably inebriated woman, but it's not that big a deal, folks! Benson handled the situation with class and dignity as one would expect. The music went on without interruption. And yes, these things do happen at live concerts. Some folks need to lighten up a little.
Benson is an amazing performer and this DVD shows off his incredible talent and versatility. The set list includes his biggest hit songs, and the audience is enjoying every delicious morsel of it. Who can blame them for wanting to dance? I couldn't sit still while watching it in my living room.
If you like George Benson, you will probably enjoy this concert. On the other hand, if you're the type that would toss out the Ferrari because a bug hit the windshield, this concert may not be for you.

Very Good.......2006-01-11

I simply can not understand some other reviewers that rated this DVD with less than 5 stars.

If you like Big Bands you will see an excellent one (BBC big band) playing. Also, Benson is a great guitarrist and singer and in addition the songs were well chosen.

Listen the first song (All of Me), listen to the BIG BAND and say if I am wrong.

WARNING: For you to really appreciate this DVD employ some good audio equipment. Dont use only the loudspeakers of your TV or that cheap hometheater set. I used an amplifier connected with a monitor quality headphone (AKG K-66) and thought I was in the show live.

As a pianist and can guarantee this DVD is great.

An unfortunate exercise in audience participation..........2005-12-10

George Benson is without a doubt an incredible guitarist. He is a great singer and is an incredible entertainer in general. His skill is certainly shown through this performance. The track lineup is great, as is the backing band, creating a tight setting for George. Also, the implementation of Strings and Brass at various times (while unfortunately sometimes missing some kick) is good.

These factors of live performance brought together would have seemingly created a great DVD-release performance that could have been watched and enjoyed many times over. But along with live performance comes the aspect of having an audience. One might presume that the kind of audience that would turn up at a GB concert would surely be relaxed and relatively subdued, appreciating his playing and listening to him because they are just as cool as he is. No?

Evidently not! Well, not in this case at least. There is only one reason why I will never watch this concert again, and that is the audience. I'm sure there was a great vibe in the hall that night, and therefore, one can understand the concept of getting up and dancing to the music. The only problem is that those dancing to this music are primarily annoying, over-confident middle-aged women who insist on getting in on the action. So much so that there is one woman who jumps up on the stage with George, trying to... "get into it" with him. It is truly embarrassing watching George try to deal with this bizarre incident involving a rude woman who presumed that she had the right to take the stage with him. The feeling of extreme discomfort demonstrated by his facial expression is almost unbearable to watch. I might have been able to deal with it if she hadn't stayed up there for such a seemingly long time. I seem to recall that she mysteriously disappeared off the stage at the cut of a shot (...security?). However, I do not want to varify this, as it would mean that I'd have to watch it again. I can understand the way the audience would have felt that night, and I can understand the the urge to dance to the music. But I do feel that the way in which some people took part was quite unnecessary.

Overall, George performs extremely well, as do the other musicians seen and heard here, but I won't be watching it again until they release a version taken only from the cameras pointed on the stage.

Not so bad.......2005-08-20

Well, I prefer Benson playing the guitar than singing. If we start from this statement I can tell you that for me, the concert was good, just good. The band BEHIND Benson is cold and the don't really play with joy and soul. There are few good moments of playing (the piano section with Joe sample and when Benson makes a bagpipe sound with the guitar) but all is ruined when a group of middle-age women start to do some dirty dancing... come on!!! one of them climbed up to dance with an uncomfortable George (just look at his face when she tries to do a ¨sexual¨ dance with him). She even tries to catch the mic from George's hand. This can't happen in a professional performance. No way.
Concert includes: All of me, I only have eyes for you, Beyond the sea, Deeper than you think, Hipping the hop, Lately, The ghetto, In your eyes, Moody's mood, Danny boy, The masquerade, Breezin', Love x love, Turn your love around, Never give up on a good thing, Give me that night, On Broadway.