Another AMAZING Jazz Blues Solo: kzread.info/dash/bejne/gnaD0rSyZsrOetY.html

I’ve met George Benson twice, and his wife once while working near his home in New Jersey. He and his wife are two of the nicest people I’ve ever met . Thanks for the great lesson Jens!

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Great! Glad you like the video!

George Benson is simply one of the most exhilarating Jazz guitarists. Blending funk and jazz in his later years is just such an awesome feat that he made very popular! Also just a very articulate musician with guitar. Cheers as always

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Glad you like the video 🙂

@RC32Smiths01

Жыл бұрын

@@JensLarsen For sure man!

GB is genius, and one the greats.

As soon as you play his licks you realize how much of a genius he actually was.

Great lesson again! A lot of GB playing also revolves around positions and he uses chromatic fills in a singularly effective rhythmic way. His groove is so great that even a basic arpeggio sounds amazing when he plays it

Great! Love GB's playing and singing!

I had the same experience at one of his concert in Paris. The audience knew him mainly as a "pop" singer and went wild when he played and sang On Broadway note for note like the record. But at some point he picked up his guitar and played a solo blues for 5 minutes and I was blown away.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

I suspect a lot of Jazz musicians recognize that 😁

I love your way of teaching, Sam.

Thank you,Jens🌹🌹🌹🌹😎

Wes too !

i love all the funny little edits and memes you’ve been putting in your videos lately :)

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Glad to hear that 😁

I find this your best video so far. A lot of humor and at the same time great jazz harmony teaching, condensed so fit for a lot of reuse!

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Thank you 🙂

Before I clicked on this, my first thought was "It's gotta be something off the George Benson Cookbook" 🔥🔥

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Of course! 🙂

excellent - thank you

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it!

Beautiful music.Thank you

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Glad you like it!

Going to see him in Toronto in 3 weeks!!! Can’t wait!!🇨🇦

Super cool and realy nerdy! NICE!

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Glad you like it 🙂

Everything I know about the blues I learned from listening to George Benson

Great video Jens

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

Great analysis…again!

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

George Benson yup, mind blowing

George Benson has a great way of combining Bebop with Blues and Soul Phrases, virtually inventing the Genre of Smooth Jazz Guitar. On the George Benson Cookbook album, Benny's Back often gets overlooked because of the tune The Cooker which is a fast Bebopish Jazz Blues.T-Bone Walker and B.B. King would often combine the Minor Pentatonic and Blues Scale with the Major Pentatonic in a style called the Sweet or Expensive Blues like you said, Inspiring many others. In my Humble Opinion, the most Aggressive Jazz Blues Guitar tracks ever recorded are 1. The Cooker George Benson 2. On The Stars Pat Martino 3. Out By Twelve Bill Connors. Oh, and by the way Jens, your not a Jazz Guitar Cyborg, despite the fact that you almost walked out of a George Benson concert. It sounds like your Patience paid off. Thanks.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Nice! I don't actually know all of those 🙂

One of my favourite Benson tunes is his version of 'The World is a Ghetto'. All the solos (guitar and keys) are completely on fire!

I also saw Benson after he became popular for his singing. His playing was enough to make me almost quit trying to play jazz. And I did, for a long time. My biggest disappointment of the concert was the sheer volume and lack of dynamics. It was just super loud the whole time.

Jens, I visit your channel from time to time and understand you are a great player, analyst and instructor. Much of what you teach is beyond my understanding and abilities. I grew up with classic rock, blues rock and didn't get into listening to jazz until my early twenties. In fact, the first jazz-like record I owned was Breezin'. You have to admit he's a damn good singer as well as a great player. I like all the playing I've heard from George. Do you find it rather amazing there are so many great guitar players in every genre these days? With young kids getting lessons from KZread everyday, I don't think there will ever be a shortage of great players. Keep up the fine work. The best to you, Jens!

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! I am not saying that Benson is bad at the pop stuff, or that he is not allowed to do it. I just don't really enjoy it that much so I don't really listen to it.

This incorporates that boogaloo style of the1960s

When I first got into jazz guitar I reckon I listened to nothing but the Benson cookbook for days on end. Great choice.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

It is an amazing album! 🙂

Anyone who is a serious player has a frustrating GB guitar story. Here's mine: I long time ago, I bought his instructional guitar DVD, I sat and listened to him solo playing "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" on a classical guitar with his thumb mind you from his home. After that, I endured him playing "Tenderly" among other things. By the the video''s end, he was clearly warmed up and inspired (and he knew it). He quoted Woody Woodpecker. I calmly put the DVD back in its case and didnt touch a guitar for about a couple of months. lol. I havent played that video since.

Guitar players will often forget that GB is not only a great guitarist but also a great singer. He has a fantastic voice and a whole load of great songs that have given him huge mainstream success and a career that spans decades. His live shows are superb, his singing and his playing impeccable and he's got a great band. The vibe is positive and fun but the music is still great, played by great musicians. Night after night the setlist will change but it's always flawless. And the audiences love it.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Yes, he is very succesful with the mainstream pop stuff as well 🙂

Just listened to 'The Cooker' from The George Benson Cookbook. I am entirely gobsmacked ! Gonna listen to it again another twenty times to see if I like it. 🤩

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

That one is great as well 🙂

George Benson = Legend

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Indeed!

G.B. is fearless, that's all :-)

Had a similar experience at a Benson show a few years ago, i didn't realize that he had such an extensive pop song vocal repertoire. I was yelling (to quote Frank Zappa) "Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar!"

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Yes, I was not aware of that either at the time 😁

Had a live Jimmy Smith record, recorded in Philly. George Benson was the guitarist. It was *very* raw. It wasn't until his Creed Taylor records that he blossomed.

George Benson might be the most musical guitarist. Give me the night

Joe Pass. Nuff said.

❤️🙏🍀🎼🎶👌🎵✌️🎸thank you.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Thank you too!

Sonny Rollins' solo on tenor madness is my favourite jazz blues solo. This is great as well though, and a really great video once again herr Larsen!

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

That is a great solo! When I studied the saxophone teacher called that song "the dictionary" with the solos by Rollins and Coltrane 🙂

@Oscaraha

Жыл бұрын

@@JensLarsen Thats the dictionary for sure!

🔥

HAHA jeg sad ledte efter noget fedt blues at få inspiration fra, og så tænkte jeg, HAN LYDER SKU DA DANSK MAND! sejt!

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Super! Håber du kan bruge det! 🙂

My friend, most awesome music is accidentally done. Now days so many try to break down every little note and try to over complicate everything when the most simple music seems to be the most admired. Example: Mr Benson is a legend. You are more than likely much more “educated” yet …….

As far as being inspired by Pat Martino, these guys including Les Paul, Bucky Pizzarelli, Al Caiola, Joe Pass , George Van Epps all lived in North Jersey close to the gigs in Manhattan. It was fertile ground for Jazz musicians In general, Wayne Shorter, Bill Evans, Sarah Vaughn, Count Basie, to name a few others. Rudy Van Gelders studio in Englewood was also very close to Bensons home in Alpine. Jazz was part of the landscape of New Jersey when I was a kid especially since the worlds greatest jazz radio station WBGO was always on.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Yes, I just know that he talked about being very impressed with Martino, and there are some very clear similarities between the two in terms of phrasing in this period.

I have those vinyls. Btw, His Billies Bounce recording is just crazy.

When I listen to GB, I hear a purity of tone, complexity of phrasing and beautiful outside lines - that sound perfectly natural. I hear lots more of course. He's my favourite bop style player; but his showbiz and funk strands leave me a bit cold.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

This era of Benson really rules! :)

👏👏👏

Thanks for this breakdown of a fabulous solo! My route to George Benson started when I watched the ‘97 Brent Mason country guitar instructional video. The 2nd half of the video was about Western swing and jazz and Brent mentioned George a ton.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Glad you like it 🙂

“It’s okay, you don’t have to analyze everything.” -Jens Larsen, June 7, 2023.

When you were talking about smooth jazz not really being your thing I literally laughed out loud because the thought occurred to me "whose thing IS it???" LOL! I mean if you think about it I don't mean it in a bad way but you really never hear people talking about smooth jazz as much as you hear people talk about all the great guitar players or horn players or piano players or things like that.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Well, I am sure you can find a few in the comment section here 🙂

@jankafka7330

Жыл бұрын

"whose thing IS it???" The Japanese?

More solo analysis videos please! :)

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

I have done quite a few lately, did you check the Joe Pass and the Bill Frisell videos?

@anon8007

Жыл бұрын

@@JensLarsen I missed them! I'll check them out.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

@@anon8007 Here's a Grant Green solo: kzread.info/dash/bejne/dnuLq7eNiZS-gLA.html

Your video editing is fantastic. Do you do it yourself? May I ask what software you use?

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! I work together with an editor and we both use Premiere Pro

When I first heard George Benson, it was through his songs, and to be honest, I thought they were uninteresting, it was a bad day when someone told him he could sing, many years later I’ve got to know him it’s a jazz guitarist and my God he’s good

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

That is not that different from my introduction to him 😁

I can understand walking out of a show that you looked forward to. I walked out of a Chick Corea electric band show, one of the worst things I’ve ever seen live next to a Herbie Hancock show where he was so wasted ( partying too much with Gil Scott Herring apparently) he knocked all of his music off of the piano and the guitar player was shouting the changes at him for the rest of the show in obvious disgust. Even the best have bad nights it seems.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Sure, everyone can have an off-night

@jankafka7330

Жыл бұрын

"Gil Scott Herring" There was always something fishy about that guy.

@BluesSky

Жыл бұрын

@@jankafka7330 I know it’s Heron a bird not a fish like the Jimmy one. Spellcheck gave me that and I’m sticking with it. He was a Herring, he didn’t make the gig.

@MrMjp58

Жыл бұрын

I walked out of an Electric Band gig around 30 years ago. They were playing well, but their sound balance was non-existent. What's more, they didn't seem to notice, or care.

@JensLarsen -- Another jazz instructor KZreadr named Chase Maddox has been doing some analysis of Benson's playing. I know you've seen that and commented. My impression is that Benson draws from his repertoire of patterns and he applies them by sound and feel without thinking in theory terms. But we can look at, say, his Amaj7 arpeggio over an F7 and understand it in theory terms. If we're playing over Am, we might play D7 licks, but what if we're playing over C major? D7 still works. So what if it's C7 and we're playing some D7 blues licks? Still works, and I think that's what Benson was doing there. He starts out with A-C-D (see 5:06), as if he's in Am pentatonic, but then he plays 8 notes that work well as D7alt. (maybe even going to E7 where you have the weird interval), then he plays a chromatic run that would be typical over C7 and returns to a C arpeggio. It would be easier to make sense of it if we knew the correct fingering. What do you think?

Now if you play boogaloo, you cant help but playing rhythmic

Subscribed! Great videos. May I ask, what is the software you are using with waveform & piano roll? Is this a good way to import audio/learn solos? Best wishes

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! That is "Transcribe!" I think there is a link in the video description 🙂

@dokertimusic7934

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@dokertimusic7934

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@dokertimusic7934

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

😂 5:34 don’t drag Barry on this lol

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

I have had commenters go there right away 😁 I don't actually think Barry had invented the 6th dim scale in the mid 60s

Hallo Jens, listenin' to 'Cookbook' (ugly cover - incredible playing) I heard a few places where George is reaching for chromatic bop lines at ferocious speed (like on the opening cut) and seems to descend in quarter-tones or at least fitting more tones in than actually permuted by 12 ...! I think this is because he has a permanent squeeze on the strings picked up instinctively to send a few scale tones purposefully sharp (with respect to the temper) like Buddy Guy and all the masters of blues microtonality... thus he can release the tweak and get two notes for the price of one when he really shreds... thanks for the ace analysis !

The main stage at the North Sea Jazz Festival is the famous musician/pop music stage. I like his pop stuff because I expanded my musical horizons and dont need to hear someone "play the changes." GB once explained how he went through his expansion. He recalls hearing Jimi Hendrix and wanting to change the station each time ("turn that sh-t off!'). I suppose his horizon had to expand when he was incessantly attacked for being a pop singer. (A friend of mine who was playing and touring with Art Barkley saw him playing GB as a chump and asking for $10k)

@donmilland7606

Жыл бұрын

GB politely played Art Blakely off.

@donmilland7606

Жыл бұрын

I love me some George Benson,. I have his LGB300 model.

Cool animation on 1:00 how did you made the turn of the album 🤔?

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

It's an effect in Premiere Pro

Thanks Jens! Which albums with George as a sideman would you recommend?

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

I actually don't know that many. I like him on Red Clay, from Freddie Hubbard but he doesn't play a lot on it.

Hey Jens, great video! I'm a beginner jazz guitarist, but jazz has been in my life for a while as I used to play Alto sax for my school. I've learned your autumn leaves videos and learned the chord melody, and your Satin Doll chords videos, and I applied what I learned from that to autumn leaves! It sounds great, but as a musician, my knowledge is better than my technique. I try to improve it through practice but find myself just noodling and spacing out. Any tips on what to practice for technique?

GREAT lesson! By the way, in the first lick, over Ab7 and G7, is he playing the Maj7 arpeggio from the 4th of the scale, or 5th of the chord( FMaj7 over G7)? And if it's yes, why it sounds? Thanks Jens!

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Thanks! Using the arpeggio from the 7th of a dominant is a fairly common device, Benson probably learned it from Parker.

@massimilianomura7557

Жыл бұрын

@@JensLarsen thanks sooo much for answering!

@massimilianomura7557

Жыл бұрын

Best teacher and musician on the tube!

You can always use KZread (or software like The Amazing Slow-Downer) to slow down the tune and work on this at a slower tempo.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Certainly, though that may not make sense for your swing feel, but I guess you can't have everything 🙂

@tyroneshuz

Жыл бұрын

@@JensLarsen I've not tried it with this tune, but unless you're going 50% speed or slower, I'm guessing it'll still swing like a mofo. I would agree that if you need to slow it down that much, then yes, try something else.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

@@tyroneshuz swing feel is connected to the tempo, so if you start changing it then that aspect is affected. In my opinion, a lot earlier than half speed.

what is the app you use to play the audio with the keys at the bottom?

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

That is Transcribe! There is a link in the video description 🙂

I call it gypsy jazz. Sounds like something Django whip out. For those long chromatic lines, just analyze the first and last note. Where it starts and ends are the anchors and the rest is momentum. The first part also sounds like a harmonic minor I'd play to step out of key while still emphasizing the root.

Jens, I was watching one of your other ii V I videos and you stated that the pentatonic DS sound was "expensive". That got lost a little in the translation. It's close, but I have never heard the word used quite like that in American or British native speaking and I'm born and raised in California. A new, hip ,slang term perhaps? Respectfully submitted...I watch your videos. You mean fancy, lush, and modern by that, right?

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

It is a fairly common expression for chords and scales in Jazz, not sure it's really new? It just mean that is good and the way it is good will depend on the context. Though often it will be technical or surprising in nature.

The “weird interval “ sounds a lot like a double approach of the scale. Correct me if I’m wrong as I’m not well versed in theory.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

A double approach would be 2 half steps, that doesn't sound that strange :)

@rivers9135

Жыл бұрын

@@JensLarsen thanks for clarifying! GB Cookbook is my favorite album. My favorite tracks are " BFL" and "Borgia Stick."

You certainly do have some 'interesting' viewers, Mr. Larsen.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Jazz guitarists are a quirky bunch but they mean well 😁

on a very basic technique level, there is something about George Benson 's picking or rythm that makes his playing distinctive. Could you explain something about his technique?

@orguidocomun

Жыл бұрын

I forgot to say please :)

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

I don't pick like him, so I can't really teach that, sorry.

Do you have a paetron ? I need to learn more George benson type guitar 2:32

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

I have a Patreon, there's a link in the video description, but it isn't all Benson stuff, there's more to Jazz 🙂

what do you think of pasquale grasso ?

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

He is a great guitar player 🙂

I know you are not generally a technique teacher, but I find that as I work on my jazz playing I am limited by my ability to play faster passages. Benson is the perfect foil for this question. Do you have any advice on how play quickly and smoothly? I feel like I'm limited by my speed with the pick and smoothness (legato) with my left hand.

@JensLarsen

4 ай бұрын

I don't where you are at with your technique, but maybe one of these: kzread.info/dash/bejne/pZ-DsaSzm7exhsY.html

@ThinkingMan482

4 ай бұрын

Thanks, Jens. I did find that video and watch it. I was thinking more of the actual technique you use to pick the string. Are there things you focus on to pick cleanly and quickly? For example, do you move your wrist side to side and try to keep your hand from moving up and down off of the string? Do you hold the pick tightly or loosely? Do you try to keep a minimum of depth to your picking so the pick does not go down between the strings very far, etc. @@JensLarsen

@JensLarsen

4 ай бұрын

@@ThinkingMan482 Ok! I never really thought about stuff like that. I just practiced the exercises in the other videos

@JensLarsen

4 ай бұрын

@@ThinkingMan482 Are you on Patreon? If so then maybe ask in the discord server in the questions section. Maybe I can shoot some quick close ups that are helpful?

@ThinkingMan482

4 ай бұрын

Maybe I'm thinking too much! I once did a master class in classical guitar where the instructor stopped me playing in a matter of seconds after I prepared for 6 months. He critiqued the very subtle little lack of fluency between notes as I played. There was an infinitesimal pause as I plucked each note that neither I nor my teacher had ever noted or worked on. I struggled to get the timing of it, though I could hear the difference. It was all I got out of my six months of work for that class. I hear it now in my electric guitar playing and I'm trying to get rid of it! The faster I try to play, the more noticeable it is and I'm looking for a key to picking and fingering notes quickly, cleanly, and fluidly enough that the notes sound continuous rather than staccato. It's a subtle thing, but I'm sure you get what I mean. I don't want you to go to a lot of trouble on my behalf. If it's something that you think deserves attention then maybe you can do a video one day. @@JensLarsen

This is very random, but Wouldn't you post'nt a video on teaching something bout that **open extended 90s art rock chords mood* please? That sweet blurry horizontal art-house guitar style. it's mostly about intervals, inversions and there are chord books to use in a last case scenario on the web, but when I let go and decide to play more freely on the arm, trying to forget scales, shapes etc it's still somehow a bit constricted. I'm talking about Jhonny marr, Thurston moore, mary timony, and even R. Fripp. Something more or less similar to how they play. How can I start going that way faster? Thanks in advance

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

That doesn't really fit my channel, you hace to ask somebody else for that.

I heard that people actually left one of his recent London concerts because he had problems with his voice at the time and was playing way too much guitar! 😅

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

That is ironic, but I hope he got better quickly. Wouldn't deny him the chance to work.

@bronzewand

Жыл бұрын

@@JensLarsen Me too. I think this was a few years ago. If I would have know he'd be playing more guitar I would have been there!

I wish you would analyze his solo in the song affirmation it’s not bebop, but there is a lot in there and I would join your Patreon twice if you would do or have already gone over the song information there’s one licking their there is just totally unbelievable. I found the transcription of it and some of the fingerings are just totally off-the-wall but maybe that’s how he played it. I don’t know all the notes just don’t sound right

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

I am sure that lots of people have done videos on that one. It is not really my thing

You mentioned Billies Bounce being a great solo (one of my favs) and also this is a great live gig though piano a bit too high in the mix! kzread.info/dash/bejne/ZJ-M2reQp7OppJc.html

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Yes, indeed! I did a video on the Billie's Bounce solo 🙂

He nearly lost you? He must be so regretting that, right?😅

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

?

I was expecting you to play it from top to end😢

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

Why not just listen to Benson playing it? That would make a lot more sense.

@user-tu7uh3xj3r

Жыл бұрын

Мудрый ответ!

Why "cheap Blues"? I listened great blues solos that uses only the pentatonic scale (or scales) and their passing notes (all the other notes).

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

It is a joke 🙂 You probably don't pick it up in this context. I am not talking down to people who play pentatonic licks 😂

Lol

When he plays solo, He employs counterpointing, single line flourishes, and harmonic tools commonly referred thee days as Barry Harris Diminished 6th concepts.

I think he used all those half steps because he was unable to bend the notes like a true blues guitarist. And that's when he had to go the jazz route.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

No, because George Benson bends strings all the time according to the comment section of my video on bending, so. That can't be it 😁

@BluesSky

Жыл бұрын

It’s those extra heavy strings

Hello tu parle trop désolé

@JensLarsen

11 ай бұрын

or perhaps English is a bit difficult for you?

it sucks to call a riff cheap when minor pentatonic is used ,where you're even not able to make it sounds right plus you play jazz like a cyborg without any feeling ,far from guys like Benson,a Chatgpt jazz version played by a human .

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

But does it suck as much as not having a sense of humor?

@kianhendrick3794

Жыл бұрын

@@JensLarsen haha ,no it was just arrogance disguised as a sense of humor

@BluesSky

Жыл бұрын

@@JensLarsen I thought it was funny

George Benson doesn’t have to prove anything to you. Nearly lost you? What arrogance. Who are you? You do a lot of analysis paralysis. Why don’t you post your playing so we can see what you can do. Benson can do what he wants in concert. He was a legend before KZread.

@JensLarsen

Жыл бұрын

It is possible, by your own logic, you are not allowed to criticize my taste at all. But maybe post some of your playing so we can see what you can do 😂 You can see my playing in a lot of videos, look them up here or on instagram.

@begoode2385

Жыл бұрын

I’ll out play you any day of the week. You’re not that good dude. You just talk a lot. I can criticize you. Benson has proven himself proficient in many genres. All you have is social media. I bet if you had a concert you’d be lucky if 50 people showed up. All you do is noodle and offer analysis and horrible opinions. Post a 30 minute solo guitar concert of yourself. You can’t do it. So keep faking it. I’m not fooled.