George Benson - Good King Bad (1975) [2013] CD-Rip

The R&B elements get stronger, the sound and mix are more attuned to the dancefloor, yet this brings out the best in George Benson's funky side. Thanks in part to the more rigid beat, Benson pares down his style to its rhythmic essentials, refusing to spray notes all over the place at random, and as a result, the record cooks and dances. His treatment of Vince Guaraldi's "Cast Your Fate to the Wind," hugely complemented by Joe Farrell's wistfully prancing flute, is a mini-masterpiece in the use of space, of hitting exactly the right stabbing note right in the pocket. Again, Creed Taylor turns to a James Brown alumnus, David Matthews, for arrangements, and he discreetly and wisely stays out of Bad George's way. Buy this one for "Cast Your Fate," but there is plenty more to savor here.

Tracks:

01. Theme from 'Good King Bad' (06:02)
02. One Rock Don't Make no Boulder (06:49)
03. Em (04:58)
04. Cast Your Fate to the Wind (06:59)
05. Siberian Workout (06:44)
06. Shell of a Man (05:16)

Personnel:

Alto Saxophone – David Sanborn (tracks: A1)
Arranged By – David Matthews
Baritone Saxophone – Ronnie Cuber (tracks: A1, A2, B1, B2)
Bass – Gary King
Cello – Alan Shulman, Charles McCracken
Clavinet – Don Grolnick (tracks: A1, A2)
Drums – Andy Newmark (tracks: A1, A2, B1, B2), Dennis Davis (tracks: B3), Steve Gadd (tracks: A3)
Flute – David Tofani* (tracks: A3, B3), Joe Farrell (tracks: A1, A2, B1, B2), Romeo Penque (tracks: A3, B3)
Guitar – Eric Gale (tracks: A1 to B2), George Benson
Keyboards – Bobby Lyle (tracks: A1, A2, B1, B2), Roland Hanna (tracks: A3), Ronnie Foster (tracks: B3)
Percussion – Sue Evans
Tenor Saxophone – Frank Vicari (tracks: A1, A2, B1, B2), Mike Brecker* (tracks: A1)
Trombone – Fred Wesley
Trumpet – Randy Brecker (tracks: A1)
Vibraphone – David Friedman (tracks: A1, B1, B3)
Viola – Harold Coletta, Theodore Israel
Violin – David Nadien, Emanuel Green, Harold Kohon, Harry Glickman, John Pintavalle, Max Ellen, Max Pollikoff, Paul Gershman