Big Boss Band

Big Boss Band
Studio album by George Benson
Released	1990 (1990)
Recorded	Clinton Recording Studio and The Power Station, New York City; CTS Studios Ltd., Wembley, England (track 7)
Genre	Jazz
Length	41:48
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	George Benson for Broadway Productions, Al Schmitt (co-producer on track 7)
George Benson chronology
Tenderly (1989) Big Boss Band (1990) Love Remembers (1993)
Singles from Big Boss Band
"Baby Workout" Released: 1990

Big Boss Band is the 1990 studio album of American musician George Benson on Warner Bros. featuring the Count Basie Orchestra. This is Benson's second consecutive album which returns to his jazz roots after his successful pop career in the 1980s, and also his debut as sole producer of an album. ^[1] The genre is mainly big band swing with some Michel Legrand and R&B thrown in.

Concept

In his liner notes, Benson writes that in 1983 he made a promise to Count Basie "to do his (Basie's) music justice" on an album such as Big Boss Band. He continues: "The spirit of the Basie Legacy permeated these sessions as I approached each one (song) in the way I believed the Count would have wanted." He thanks to Frank Foster III for his contribution and notes that he "was Basie's only choice" to arrange this album. ^[1]

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings	[3]

The album was criticized by jazz writers for not being jazzy enough, for the vocal performance and for not being able to grab the opportunity of making a jazz classic. ^{[4] [5]}

Awards

Frank Foster received Grammy Award for his arrangement of George Benson's composition “Basie’s Bag” (Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band, 1990). ^[6]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Without a Song"	Vincent Youmans, Edward Eliscu, William Rose	4:09
2.	"Ready Now That You Are"	Frank Foster	5:50
3.	"How Do You Keep the Music Playing?"	Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, Michel Legrand	5:00
4.	"On Green Dolphin Street"	Bronislau Kaper, Ned Washington	4:09
5.	"Baby Workout"	Jackie Wilson, Alonzo Tucker	3:52
6.	"I Only Have Eyes for You"	Harry Warren, Al Dubin	2:52
7.	"Portrait of Jennie"	J. Russel Robinson, Gordon Budge	4:23
8.	"Walkin' My Baby Back Home"	Fred Ahlert, Roy Turk	3:01
9.	"Skylark"	Johnny Mercer, Hoagy Carmichael	5:06
10.	"Basie's Bag"	George Benson	2:59

Personnel

^[7]

Musicians:

• George Benson – guitar, vocals (1, 3–9)

Count Basie Orchestra (1-4, 6, 8, 9, 10):

• Carl "Ace" Carter – acoustic piano
• Charlton Johnson – guitar
• Cleveland Eaton – bass
• Duffy Jackson – drums
• David Glasser – alto saxophone, alto sax solo (2)
• Danny Turner – alto saxophone
• Johnny Williams – baritone saxophone
• Frank Foster III – arrangements (1-5, 8, 9, 10), tenor saxophone, tenor sax solo (2)
• Kenneth Hing – tenor saxophone
• Doug Miller – tenor saxophone
• Clarence Banks – trombone
• Melvin Wanzo – trombone
• Tim Williams – trombone
• Bill Hughes – bass trombone
• George Cohn – trumpet
• Bob Ojeda – trumpet, backup trumpet solo (2), arrangements (6)
• Byron Stripling – trumpet, backup trumpet solo (4)
• Mike Williams – trumpet

Additional Musicians:

• Barry J. Eastmond – acoustic piano (3), keyboards (3)
• Terry Burrus – keyboards (5)
• Richard Tee – keyboard bass (5)
• David Witham – keyboards (5)
• Ron Carter – bass (3)
• Bashiri Johnson – percussion (5)
• Ralph MacDonald – percussion (5)
• Carmen Bradford – vocals (3)

New York Horns (5):

• Larry Farrell – trombone
• Paul Faulise – trombone
• Keith O'Quinn – trombone
• James Pugh – trombone
• Randy Brecker – trumpet
• Jon Faddis – trumpet
• Earl Gardner – trumpet
• Lew Soloff – trumpet

Robert Farnon Orchestra (7):

• Robert Farnon – arrangements ^[1]
• uncredited UK musicians ^[1]

Production:

• George Benson – producer, liner notes
• Al Schmitt – co-producer (Track 7), recording, mixing
• Russ Defilippis – production assistant for Broadway Productions.
• Peter Darmi – recording
• Elliot Scheiner – recording
• Dave Russell – additional recording
• Jeff Toone – additional recording
• Ed Rak – mixing
• Greg Calbi – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York, NY).
• Emile Charlap – musical contractor
• Aaron Woodward – musical contractor
• Lucrecia Snead – project administrator
• Michon C. Stanco – album package coordinator
• Mary Ann Dibs – art direction
• Lorna Stovall – design
• Robert Hakalski – photography
• Robin Lynch – grooming
• Alexander White – styling
• Ken Fritz Management, L.A. – direction

Charts

Chart (1990)	Peak position
US Top Contemporary Jazz Albums [8]	3

References

1. as in Benson's personal liner notes
2. "Big Boss Band - George Benson - Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
3. Cook, Richard; Brian Morton (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings. The Penguin Guide to Jazz (9th ed.). London: Penguin. p. 113. ISBN   978-0-14-103401-0.
4. "JAZZ / ALBUM REVIEWS : Benson, Mathis Pay Tribute to Count Basie, Ellington". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
5. "Big Boss Band (George Benson)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
6. "Past Winners Search". The GRAMMYs. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
7. as on album cover
8. Benson, George. Billboard Albums at AllMusic . Retrieved 2014-04-14.