Monday, August 28, 2017

NEW RELEASES: "5 ORIGINAL ALBUM" BOX SETS FROM GEORGE BENSON, THE CRUSADERS, CHUCK MANGIONE

GEORGE BENSON – 5 ORIGINAL ALBUMS (THAT’S RIGHT / STANDING TOGETHER / ABSOLUTE BENSON / IRREPLACEABLE / LIVE)

George Benson may have hit his greatest fame in the 70s, but the guitarist kept on making wonderful work for many many years – as you'll hear in this excellent collection of albums from the end of the 90s! The albums here show that, even during a time when so many younger musicians were working under inspiration from his efforts, the man himself was still always a cut above – playing in a soulful style, but never too smooth – and always able to bring in a chromatic solo that reminded us of his tremendous skills. At the time of these records, even though we were slavish devotees of Benson's classics, we still really found ourselves impressed – and all these many years later, we're even more so – and expect you will be to. The set features five full albums, each in small LP-styled sleeves – the studio sets That's Right, Standing Together, Absolute Benson, and Irreplaceable – and a great Live best of set from 2005.  ~ Dusty Groove

THE CRUSADERS – 5 ORIGINAL ALBUMS (CHAIN REACTION / THOSE SOUTHERN NIGHTS / FREE AS THE WIND / IMAGES / STREET LIFE)

A document of an incredible shift in style for the Crusaders – and one that helped them soar even higher in the jazz funk stratosphere! By the time of these albums, the group had changed significantly from their youthful days as the Jazz Crusaders – mostly a trio, with Joe Sample on keyboards, Wilton Felder on saxes, and Stix Hooper on drums – but often augmented by some of the best studio help they could find, and working at a level that was still razor-sharp, and incredibly soulful! So many other artists mixed jazz and soul together in the 70s, but a rare few could do it this right – and still hold onto all the bite that the artists had in their earlier days. Production is tight, but never too slick – no 80s smooth jazz modes here – and there's a sense of groove balanced with a sense of soloing that's really wonderful! All five albums are impeccable – to jazz what Steely Dan was to mainstream rock at the time (and we mean that in the best way possible!) – and as you'll hear with some slight inclusion of vocals (most famously by Randy Crawford on Street Life), these guys also found a way to win whole new audiences to jazz from the world of soul too. A great package – with all five albums in little tiny LP-styled covers!  ~ Dusty Groove

CHUCK MANGIONE – 5 ORIGINAL ALBUMS (CHASE THE CLOUDS AWAY / MAIN SQUEEZE / FEELS SO GOOD / FUN & GAMES / 70 MILES YOUNG)

Five full albums from a time when jazzman Chuck Mangione was at the height of his powers – all served up here in one package, with tiny LP-styled covers for each CD! Most of these records were instant hits for Mangione, and for good reason too – as Chuck's got a way of balancing the sweet and the soulful here nicely – drifting along with the rhythms, so that all the most rounded, open notes of his horn cascade out warmly – yet never in the sort of too-polished mode that would show up later in mainstream fusion. From the perspective of the 21st Century, it's surprising how strongly creative these records sound – especially when some sonic surprises come into the mix, or Chuck stretches things out in unusual says – such as on the long title track of the final album. A great way to bring all these albums together – which sound even stronger as a whole than on their own!  ~ Dusty Groove


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