and 
Proceeds support our family of sites!
George Benson & Al Jarreau: Givin’ It Up
I was looking forward to listening to this pairing of two long-established jazz artists ever since I heard it announced many months ago. I’ve only just picked it up recently, and have given it a few spins. While one can’t fault the talents of George Benson and Al Jarreau separately, the spark just doesn’t happen on this album. The best song on this one is the remake of Benson’s “Breezin’”, with an added vocal part by Jarreau. The tables turn on the next track, a remake of Jarreau’s “Mornin’”, albeit in a bland instrumental version. The remainder of the album really doesn’t fare much better: it’s well-played, competent music in the airplay-ready $mooth Jazz mold, but hardly has anything to recommend it. A roster of guest artists attempt to help things along, but nothing ever really ignites. Even the presence of Sir Paul McCartney could have been a recipe for greatness, but he is lost amidst a trainwreck of wailing female vocals in “Bring It On Home To Me”. (Give me Sam Cooke’s version with Lou Rawls punctuating the vocal lines in the background.) A remake of “Summer Breeze” is the only other highlight, one of the few tracks I return to regularly beside “Breezin’”. I’d have to give this recording merely an average rating, 2-1/2 out of 5 stars as a missed opportunity.
