Walking to New Orleans (album)

Walking to New Orleans
Studio album by George Benson
Released	26 April 2019
Genre	Jazz
Label	Provogue
Producer	Kevin Shirley
George Benson chronology
Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole (2013) Walking to New Orleans (2019)

Walking to New Orleans is a studio album by American guitarist and singer George Benson, released by Provogue Records on 26 April 2019. ^[1] It is Benson's first recording since Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole , which was released in 2013.

Background

Benson made this album as a tribute to Fats Domino and Chuck Berry. In an interview, Benson said: ″I'm a great appreciator of the music made by both of those guys″; ″Chuck Berry was a great showman and a great musician, and Fats Domino cut nothing but hit after hit after hit″.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Jazzwise	[2]
Allmusic	[3]

Peter Quinn of Jazzwise remarked "On his 45th album, George Benson pays tribute to two of his musical heroes, the godfather of rock'n'roll, Chuck Berry, and another rock'n'roll icon and hit machine, Fats Domino." ^[2] Matt Collar of Allmusic noted "Where Inspiration was a lushly swinging standards album, Walking to New Orleans is all blues grit and old-school R&B swagger." ^[3]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Nadine (Is It You)"	Chuck Berry	3:53
2.	"Ain't That a Shame"	Fats Domino, Dave Bartholomew	3:49
3.	"Rockin' Chair"	Fats Domino, Alvin E. Young	3:39
4.	"You Can't Catch Me"	Chuck Berry	3:35
5.	"Havana Moon"	Chuck Berry	4:54
6.	"I Hear You Knocking"	Dave Bartholomew	3:45
7.	"Memphis, Tennessee"	Chuck Berry	3:19
8.	"Walking to New Orleans"	Bobby Charles, Fats Domino, Dave Bartholomew	4:08
9.	"Blue Monday"	Dave Bartholomew	3:03
10.	"How You've Changed"	Chuck Berry	3:21

Personnel

• George Benson – guitar, vocals
• Rob McNelley – rhythm guitar
• Kevin McKendree – acoustic piano
• Alison Prestwood – bass guitar
• Greg Morrow – drums, percussion
• Paulie Cerra – saxophone, baritone saxophone
• Ron Dziubla – baritone saxophone, sax solos
• Lee Thornburg – trumpet, horn arrangements
• Jeff Bova – orchestral arrangements
• The Bovaland Symphonic Orchestra – orchestra
• Mahalia Barnes – backing vocals
• Prinnie Stevens – backing vocals
• Natasha Stuart – backing vocals

Production

• Producer – Kevin Shirley
• Executive Producer – George Benson
• Engineers – Austin Atwood, Mark DeCozio, Kevin Shirley and Vezi Tayyeb.
• Recorded at Ocean Way Nashville (Nashville, Tennessee); Brick Road Studios (Scottsdale, Arizona); The Cave (Malibu, California); Kensington Sound (Toronto, Canada).
• Mixed by Kevin Shirley at The Cave (Malibu, California).
• Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering (Portland, Maine).
• Artwork – Roy Koch
• Photography – Austin Hargrave
• Management – Stephanie Gonzalez for Apropos Management.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
United States	26 April 2019	CD digital download LP record	Provogue

References

1. "Walking To New Orleans - Remembering Chuck Berry and Fats Domino (CD)". 20 February 2019.
2. Quinn, Peter. "George Benson: Walking To New Orleans". Jazzwise . Retrieved March 7, 2025.
3. Collar, Matt. "Walking to New Orleans: Remembering Chuck Berry and Fats Domino". Allmusic . Retrieved March 7, 2025.