George HaffendenThe master guitarist reminds us of the joy of live music, even if we can’t enjoy any this year.
Nearly 50 year since he first performed at London’s famed Ronnie Scott’s, George Benson returned last year to record his latest live album, Weekend In London. It’s an unapologetic, classy run through of Benson’s greatest hits, proving that while he may be in his later years, he’s still one of the best live performers around.
Rather than record in front of the normal crowds Benson attracts to some of the UK’s biggest venues, Weekend In London was recorded in front of a crowd with just 250 people in attendance (Lord only knows how much those tickets cost). It was probably a good choice for a live album, as the intimacy of Ronnie Scott’s gives a real glimpse into Benson’s undimmed talent and his ability to improvise, things that might not have been captured so fully had Benson recorded at a larger venue.
With a few surprises thrown in for good measure, the set list is largely a run through of Benson’s biggest hits. After all, But Benson knows it’s largely the hits that people have come to hear, even in a jazz club like Ronnie Scott’s.
But the setlist is a little different from his usual live shows. For instance, Benson starts the show with ‘Give Me The Night’, perhaps his biggest hit. Extended to seven minutes, Benson and his superb band deliver a masterclass in pop-soul perfection, complete with a guitar solo from Benson you won’t find on the original.
Then, without giving the Ronnie Scott’s audience a moment to relax, Benson launches into his eighties classic, ‘Turn Your Love Around’, demonstrating that age has barely diminished his warm vocals. As if that wasn’t enough, Benson follows it up with ‘Love X Love’.
Of course, being a greatest hits set, there’s room for a couple of his ballads – the syrupy ‘In Your Eyes’ and ‘Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You’. Thrown in for the ladies, no doubt.
It’s not just the hits that Benson delivers. There’s a song from Benson’s latest album, the surprisingly good Walkin’ To New Orleans, and also his version of ‘Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight’, from the underrated Songs & Stories album. And for the jazz fans, there’s a couple of songs from Benson’s days when he was known primarily as being a guitarist, the excellent ‘Affirmation’ and ‘Cruise Control’.
But perhaps the best song on the album is his superb version of ‘The Ghetto’, the Donny Hathaway classic. Benson’s smoother version first appeared on his Absolute Benson album, but the live version is something else.
One reason why Benson’s performances are so polished is his not-so-secret weapon, his long-time backing band, featuring several long-time members, including Michael O’Neil on guitar and Stanley Banks, who’ve been with Benson for decades. They’re all excellent musicians who’ve been recreating Benson’s hits on stage across the world for years. No wonder they sound so good.
One of the highlights of the album comes from Benson’s more recent addition to the band, percussionist Lilliana De Los Reyes. Not only does she now round out the backing vocals throughout the album, she does a stunning job duetting with Benson on ‘Moody’s Mood’.
The only real criticism of the album (and Benson’s performances in general) is his lack of a horn section, instead relying on synth horns.
Having seen Benson in concert many times over the past decade, including a date at the Hammersmith Apollo last year, you don’t really miss having real horns. Sure, it’d be nice, but Benson and his band do sound great, so it does feel bad to criticise. But on Weekend in London, some horns would be nice as the synths do stand out, particularly on the up-tempo numbers like ‘Feel Like Making Love’ and ‘Love Ballad’.
And another criticism, if we can call it that, is that there’s just more we’d like to hear. Weekend In London is a double-LP already (check out the orange vinyl edition, it looks and sounds great), but there’s so many more songs we’d love to hear Benson perform live.
Jazz fans would no doubt rather hear some of Benson’s earlier recordings, and notable by it’s absence is ‘Breezin”, another of his best songs. Similarly, there’s no ‘Lady Love Me (One More Time)’ or ‘This Masquerade’, or even ‘On Broadway’, Benson’s usual set closer. But with a career so long and varied, it’s always going to be a struggle condensing a career retrospective into a single album release. Weekend in London 2, anyone?
These minor criticism/pickiness aside, Weekend in London is a brilliant live album from one of the all time greats. The only downside to releasing Weekend in London this year is that we’ll have to wait until we’re all vaccinated and/or COVID is under control before we can enjoy seeing the likes of George Benson in the flesh again.
If Weekend in London is anything to go by, it’ll be worth the wait.