Big Boss Band | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 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 | ||||
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Singles from Big Boss Band | ||||
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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.
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]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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]
Frank Foster received Grammy Award for his arrangement of George Benson's composition “Basie’s Bag” (Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band, 1990). [6]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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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 |
Musicians:
Count Basie Orchestra (1-4, 6, 8, 9, 10):
Additional Musicians:
New York Horns (5):
Robert Farnon Orchestra (7):
Production:
Chart (1990) | Peak position |
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US Top Contemporary Jazz Albums [8] | 3 |
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