I was 16 in 1966. I played guitar when I was 12 then, put the guitar away in favor of playing sports. Picked it back up when I was 15 and am still playing today. Boy... Am I glad I didn't see this in 1966. I might've called it quits!!! He is my favorite guitarist and is always a great source of inspiration. I mean, just to get close sometimes.....
Unequaled greatness, possibly the greatest soloist in the history of the instrument. Apropos of nothing, I’ve never seen a guitarist who messes with his volume and tone knobs more frequently than Benson.
Just a theory, but I think Benson is concerned with his arch-top feeding back and causing distortion. If you play jazz on that type of instrument - yeah, that's me, been there done that - they will feed back if you turn up the volume too much. Many guys stuff some foam into the sound holes to dampen the feedback or have a guitar tech install a "sound post," which is another fix for that issue. Benson later moved to playing an Ibanez which was a bit more of a hybrid in terms of being an arch-top hollow-body since I don't think it had a solid top but was partly laminated. Either way, regardless of instrument, Benson was on fire during this gig wasn't he?!
I just wish the man had played a few more jazz dates here-and-there once he had hit the big time. His pop hits are pleasing enough, but to hear him burn through some jazz is just too cool for words! I tried for years to catch him sitting in with Lou Donaldson, but no luck. That man was tough to pin down....
@@GeorgiaBoy1961 gotta make that "dough ray me"! I've never seen him live either but have been fortunate to catch a plethora of fine axemen, ( Stanley Jordan being one who particularly stands out). GB is a pioneer and legend who conveys some kool memories and stories when interviewed. # Elite and groundbreaking player...
This is a real gem, filmed at the Newport Jazz Festival on July 2, 1966. Beside Benson who plays a beautiful Gibson Super 400 and is constantly fiddling with the knobs in search of the perfect killer tone, on Hammond B3 duties we can see a very young Lonnie Smith who passed away just recently (RIP) and an even younger Ronnie Cuber on bari sax performing a take-no-prisoners blues. As far as cinematography is concerned, this is on a par with Bert Stern's fabulous Jazz On A Summer's Day, musicians and audience are hipper than hip and beautifully filmed and edited throughout and the groove vibe is in the air and almost palpable. But this is 1966, just a year before the Summer Of Love and the Monterey Festival where things would take a different course musically. Priceless stuff, thanks for posting.
Killing it at 23. But you could tell he wasn't all that thrilled with his sound, as he was constantly adjusting his volume and tone knobs on his guitar throughout his set. But he was still finding his tonal voice, and the right equipment was forthcoming...
Gil Parris! I just purchased your "50 Smooth Jazz Guitar Licks". I find it a masterful treasure trove of guitar lines that will keep me musically busy! Thanks for the comment on the GB that I posted--he certainly goes "outside" the blues scale on a few bars (as you duly covered in your course) & it is great to see him perform from this era.Again..many thanks :)
.Birth of a Legend !... Kyrie...Ellison !..Kyrie...Benson ! Thanks for this precious testimony .And listen to the same team of fabulous musicians on "the shadow of your smile"...a piece of anthology !!
GB just killin. a few years after this he played a dive in LA a week same lineup I went every night, horn player might have been Cuber. GB killed then too, played my ES 175 a set and just burned. funny how much he twiddles with knobs but we hear no difference in sound, is that because youtube audio low quality? still funny :-)
I noticed he's using a pick.This was before my time..Does anyone know when he switched over to using his thumb like Wes Montgomery? Can you get this performance on a cd?
He mainly uses a pick now, holding it the same rather unconventional way you see here. He is quite facile with the thumb technique, but it has never been his main method.
I used to work at MANNY's music store In the 80's and my boss HENRY GOLDRICH TOLD ME HE USED TO KICK GEORGE OUT EVERY TIME HE PICKED UP A GUITAR UNTIL WES MONTGOMERY TOLD MY BOSS HE PLAYS FINE AND YEARS LATER HE SAID HE SAW SOMETHING "SPECIAL" IN HIM BUT DIDN'T CATCH ON TIL' ...WOW!
This tune is on The George Benson Cookbook- it’s called Benson’s Rider. You can even hear some of the same licks- but of course this live version is burning!
ahhh, this is the George Benson I remember. Also found on the album George Benson Cookbook. With Gene Taylor, Lonnie Smith (at first I thought it was JImmy Smith on the organ), Billy Kay and Ronnie Cuber. This UA-cam video is so hot I think it just melted my computer!
I think that is a Super 500 - I played one of these models before owned by Mel Brown - guitar player for Bobby Blue Bland. It is a very physically large instrument - great tone - super cool.
Here from the Beato interview. 😀 I first really got into GB with his massive vocal era, but nice to see the young George he spoke about in that wonderful interview. He _always_ 'sang' melodies from his head to his fingers just as he said.
George was knockin it down at this level at 23 years of age. What ax was he playing? You tell me . He could make a guitar from Sears and Roebuck sound good. Thanks you George, you showed us how its done.
The amp was distorting and he was trying to find the magic spot on the volume knob of that Super 400, basically the amp was failing and he had to deal and keep playing.
@@fusionfan6883 There was this other kid, a year younger and not quite as funky, but nonetheless, right there with him in the chops department. George is from Pittsburgh, this other guy is from Philly but when George heard him for the first time, they were both in NY. His comment was, "just how good do you have to be to make it in NY?" Perhaps you've heard of him, his name is Pat Martino.
I'm a huge Martino fan and respect his fight back to fitness after his brain surgery, but he lacks the variety of phrasing and down right soulfulness of George to my mind.
I FAR prefer early Benson than his later, mega-popular stuff. But when he was playing pure blues and jazz - that's GB at his finest. When this was shot, George was like the new wonder kid / upstart - as the jazz guitarists of the day were still under the giant shadow of Wes Montgomery - in fact, this was recorded about two years before Wes passed away. And the organ stuff is a perfect contrast and counterpoint. Thank God it was put on film!
this kid has potential, if he stays with it he might make it on to the Rolling Stone best 1000 guitarists of lal time. i mean clearly not top 250 material yet
Such a cool performance by these cats, and GB working the knobs on that Super 400 like he means to find every little piece of badass tone that guitar has in it. A really inspirational piece and I'm sure I'll be borrowing licks off of this for a long time. Thanks, man! Blues cats everywhere are diggin' this.
I saw him playing this very theme in Paris in 1969. The concert featured K. Burrell. B. Kessel and G. Green. GB was playing as first part of the show. The audience was stunned. Unforgettable...
Amazing stuff, thanks for sharing! Cookin' all over with these young cats. Love Dr lonnie's playing and of course incredible what George is doing. Ronnie is also spot on!
Great playing...too bad they didn't have HD cameras back then. And better audio recording gear. His tone is terrible...not like his later LPs. I never noticed his CKT disorder before. Gibson's volume and tone knobs are not known to adjust themselves at will.
Although greatly influenced by Wes (and which guitarist wasn’t??!) GB had his own distinct sound very early on… great to see footage of drummer Billy Kaye
At 23 he's very particular with his sound - the constant knob adjusting. AND you see where his voicing originates: a dynamic attack, blues infusion, style. What a treasure to guitar.
Couldn't resist working that line out at 3.00 :) George Benson Line - Video Notebook #01 I think I've played this video about a thousand times now :) Thanks for uploading it!
Such a cool sounding line! He plays pretty much the same line (ends differently though) but slower at about 1:40 on ain't that peculiar if you want to get a more detailed listen of it :)
@@haloskater24 my ears differ. I hear a little r&b, a little jazz, and a little rock (particularly a little rock to come down the line). In any case it’s very stimulating and rich at the same time.
No one was playing guitar like this at that time. True virtuoso. Blown away by his facility with the instrument at this young stage of his career. His funky phrasing …my goodness. Definite influence from Grant Green and the great organists of the era.
@@jorgemauriciomercado288 yes of course, and he was amazing and hugely influential for Benson as well. But just like Wes elevated the instrument, so did Benson. Another icon that elevated jazz guitar at the time was Pat Martino.
I was 16 in 1966. I played guitar when I was 12 then, put the guitar away in favor of playing sports.
Picked it back up when I was 15 and am still playing today.
Boy... Am I glad I didn't see this in 1966.
I might've called it quits!!!
He is my favorite guitarist and is always a great source of inspiration.
I mean, just to get close sometimes.....
Unequaled greatness, possibly the greatest soloist in the history of the instrument. Apropos of nothing, I’ve never seen a guitarist who messes with his volume and tone knobs more frequently than Benson.
yeah because he has ADD..
Just a theory, but I think Benson is concerned with his arch-top feeding back and causing distortion. If you play jazz on that type of instrument - yeah, that's me, been there done that - they will feed back if you turn up the volume too much. Many guys stuff some foam into the sound holes to dampen the feedback or have a guitar tech install a "sound post," which is another fix for that issue. Benson later moved to playing an Ibanez which was a bit more of a hybrid in terms of being an arch-top hollow-body since I don't think it had a solid top but was partly laminated. Either way, regardless of instrument, Benson was on fire during this gig wasn't he?!
One of the true Masters of my lifetime. That Super400 sounds great with some hair on it!
George Benson. Extraordinary!
This is the GB I cherish. The man could shred. The latter material was popular and probably got him paid but his early work….whew!
I just wish the man had played a few more jazz dates here-and-there once he had hit the big time. His pop hits are pleasing enough, but to hear him burn through some jazz is just too cool for words! I tried for years to catch him sitting in with Lou Donaldson, but no luck. That man was tough to pin down....
@@GeorgiaBoy1961 gotta make that "dough ray me"! I've never seen him live either but have been fortunate to catch a plethora of fine axemen, ( Stanley Jordan being one who particularly stands out). GB is a pioneer and legend who conveys some kool memories and stories when interviewed. # Elite and groundbreaking player...
Every time I think he’s gonna zig, he zags and it’s perfect.
Why doesn't this clip have 10,000,000 views?
Those numbers belong to Bieber and the Kardashians. go figure.
I endorse this message!
I’m see seeing this man live in two weeks! In 🇬🇧! He’s 80 years old
Wanna talk legends!? Let’s talk….
I had played too many solos of George Benson and I was amazed to know his style it was an golden era in Jazz
The logical extension of Wes.
This is a real gem, filmed at the Newport Jazz Festival on July 2, 1966. Beside Benson who plays a beautiful Gibson Super 400 and is constantly fiddling with the knobs in search of the perfect killer tone, on Hammond B3 duties we can see a very young Lonnie Smith who passed away just recently (RIP) and an even younger Ronnie Cuber on bari sax performing a take-no-prisoners blues. As far as cinematography is concerned, this is on a par with Bert Stern's fabulous Jazz On A Summer's Day, musicians and audience are hipper than hip and beautifully filmed and edited throughout and the groove vibe is in the air and almost palpable. But this is 1966, just a year before the Summer Of Love and the Monterey Festival where things would take a different course musically. Priceless stuff, thanks for posting.
Lonnie Smith was a legend and a gent !
He was adjusting for each phrase!! Amazing!
That’s about as hip as it gets
Was this Newport Beach, CA...dee
He was already awesome but there were many amazing players then of course - Pat Martino, John McLaughlin, to name just two.
This is why i love UA-cam
WOW !!! Truly the "Mohammed Ali Champ" of the Jazz Guitar - even way back in 1966. Thanks for posting.😀
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO SOMEONE WHO RECORDED AND PUT IT HERE TODAY. THIS FESTIVAL IS EPIC.
And to think this is two years before the great West Montgomery passed, whould have been a blast seeing the two on stage together.
Very much enjoyed this performance... Thanks for posting it....
George's Bassman amp sounds like JBL D120 speakers in that box :)
Peak music years 🔥🔥
By far the best guitarist still alive
Maybe, but Kenny Burrell is still my favorite
This is such a gem
Wow, that tone, that groove.
George has been great for a long time!😁
This is so fucking cool. It’s crazy getting to see George play straight ahead jazz.
Killing it at 23. But you could tell he wasn't all that thrilled with his sound, as he was constantly adjusting his volume and tone knobs on his guitar throughout his set. But he was still finding his tonal voice, and the right equipment was forthcoming...
Yes ! I have the Audio...but, it is just great to see it ! (More Please!)
Gil Parris! I just purchased your "50 Smooth Jazz Guitar Licks". I find it a masterful treasure trove of guitar lines that will keep me musically busy! Thanks for the comment on the GB that I posted--he certainly goes "outside" the blues scale on a few bars (as you duly covered in your course) & it is great to see him perform from this era.Again..many thanks :)
JR Ellison
Mighty kind of ya...let me know if you have any questions and thanks for the kind words. gp nyc
Thanks for posting JR!
.Birth of a Legend !... Kyrie...Ellison !..Kyrie...Benson ! Thanks for this precious
testimony .And listen to the same team of fabulous musicians on "the shadow of
your smile"...a piece of anthology !!
This is beautiful to hear and see - thanks!
Amazing Benson!!!
Damn, this is good stuff. This an example of God given talent and the love of his craft, with alittle bit of hard work and plenty of practice.
how anyone could be sitting down during this sprit moving performance is beyond my brains ability!
George is grooving but he's got that nervous right hand trying to get that right mix! Lol!
I like how he kept adjusting his pots until he got the volume and tone he wanted without it breaking up too much, like it was doing at the beginning.
RIP Dr. Lonnie 🙏
Man, George Benson was always nice!
cool!
Thanks for this great post!! Is the more tunes of this show??
Super George!!!💙💙💙
Fab !!
Amazing. What's he doing with the knobs? Adjusting the tone after every run? Most guitarists do that. Seems risky.
It looked almost like a nervous habit/tick to me. Something that he probably wasn’t aware he was doing so much.
awesome, who is the organ player?thanks for share it!
Lonnie Smith
Thanks a lot!!
Sounds like a cool Grateful Dead jam from the same time.
Is that Jimmy Smith on organ?
GB just killin. a few years after this he played a dive in LA a week same lineup I went every night, horn player might have been Cuber. GB killed then too, played my ES 175 a set and just burned. funny how much he twiddles with knobs but we hear no difference in sound, is that because youtube audio low quality? still funny :-)
I think I saw Jimi Hendrix in the audience.
I noticed he's using a pick.This was before my time..Does anyone know when he switched over to using his thumb like Wes Montgomery? Can you get this performance on a cd?
He mainly uses a pick now, holding it the same rather unconventional way you see here. He is quite facile with the thumb technique, but it has never been his main method.
3:50
(Insert joke about the crowd not moshing)
Is the guy who plays the hammond Jimmy Smith?
Dr. Lonnie Smith!
Dr. Lonnie Smith!
Dr. Lonnie Smith!
I used to work at MANNY's music store
In the 80's and my boss HENRY GOLDRICH TOLD ME HE USED TO KICK GEORGE OUT EVERY TIME HE PICKED
UP A GUITAR UNTIL WES MONTGOMERY
TOLD MY BOSS HE PLAYS FINE AND
YEARS LATER HE SAID HE SAW
SOMETHING "SPECIAL" IN HIM BUT
DIDN'T CATCH ON TIL' ...WOW!
Benson was good for the times but later he learned to complete a lot of those lines for a more fluid approach.
Yes noticed that too, so cool to see him still developing, as great as he is here.
@@johnbruhnke7506 yes.
Before he would song with his solos? When did he start doing that?
He always did that(scatting), many guitarists do it as an ear-training and improvisational practicing technique.
This is insane even by today's standards
This tune is on The George Benson Cookbook- it’s called Benson’s Rider. You can even hear some of the same licks- but of course this live version is burning!
You all are very welcome! I am so glad that you appreciated this fine performance. I will be on the lookout for more!
Could you tell me the name of this piece he’s playing please?
He was still 23 and yet this is an absolute gem of a masterclass in groove
ahhh, this is the George Benson I remember. Also found on the album George Benson Cookbook. With
Gene Taylor, Lonnie Smith (at first I thought it was JImmy Smith on the organ), Billy Kay and Ronnie Cuber.
This UA-cam video is so hot I think it just melted my computer!
Its Uptown also has great tracks !! Clockwise is one of my favorites
Cuber was a vital component.
George great, but WES YOUR MENTOR USED HIS THUMB….. who was the bari player,JERRY MULLIGAN?
Big thanks to whomever posted this video. I thoroughly enjoyed it .. was awesome ..
That combination of Benson's playing and that beautiful Gibson
is about as close to heaven as one can get on earth... Beautiful!
I think that is a Super 500 - I played one of these models before owned by Mel Brown - guitar player for Bobby Blue Bland. It is a very physically large instrument - great tone - super cool.
Fantastic.. Hard to believe George still improved so much after this. My all time favorite musician
So few people that I know actually know THIS 'version' of George Benson! Brilliant.
HUGE!!! He was a baby!!! So extraordinary, so beautiful. Music like this makes my heart; just happy.
he was much younger when he released his first song in 1954 titled "she makes me mad"
Incredible footage! Thank you for sharing this. A "holy grail" clip for George Benson and jazz guitar fans!
Here from the Beato interview. 😀
I first really got into GB with his massive vocal era, but nice to see the young George he spoke about in that wonderful interview. He _always_ 'sang' melodies from his head to his fingers just as he said.
George was knockin it down at this level at 23 years of age. What ax was he playing? You tell me . He could make a guitar from Sears and Roebuck sound good. Thanks you George, you showed us how its done.
Gibson Super 400.
George is smokin! Not exactly sounding like he would in later years, but awesome. Glad he got away from the compulsive knob-adjusting, pretty much.
To touch the volume knob can be a signal for sound technician but, as usual, he doesn't care...
🙄
The amp was distorting and he was trying to find the magic spot on the volume knob of that Super 400, basically the amp was failing and he had to deal and keep playing.
Little did anyone know, that around 10 years later. George Benson would have a record that would set the music world on fire.
What Is a Disc?
I love the 'George Benson Cookbook'. I also love jazz organ during the cool 60's period.
Wow! Hugely important film, this. Consider how advanced George’s ideas were at this time. *Nobody* had comparable chops for another 20 or more years.
Totally agree - sweep picking amongst other things! And George created a perfect fusing of bebop, soul and blues which is unmatched to this day.
@@fusionfan6883 There was this other kid, a year younger and not quite as funky, but nonetheless, right there with him in the chops department. George is from Pittsburgh, this other guy is from Philly but when George heard him for the first time, they were both in NY. His comment was, "just how good do you have to be to make it in NY?" Perhaps you've heard of him, his name is Pat Martino.
I'm a huge Martino fan and respect his fight back to fitness after his brain surgery, but he lacks the variety of phrasing and down right soulfulness of George to my mind.
Tim Nelson Maybe but have you heard Grant Green?
I think Joe Pass could keep up with Benson, listen to his early 60s albums with Pacific Records.
I FAR prefer early Benson than his later, mega-popular stuff. But when he was playing pure blues and jazz - that's GB at his finest. When this was shot, George was like the new wonder kid / upstart - as the jazz guitarists of the day were still under the giant shadow of Wes Montgomery - in fact, this was recorded about two years before Wes passed away. And the organ stuff is a perfect contrast and counterpoint. Thank God it was put on film!
this kid has potential, if he stays with it he might make it on to the Rolling Stone best 1000 guitarists of lal time. i mean clearly not top 250 material yet
Great sound! Epic video
P.S he’s THIS good in 1966.. No wonder he’s an absolute monster in mid 1970’s on albums like Breezin’ , Bad Benson etc etc
Such a cool performance by these cats, and GB working the knobs on that Super 400 like he means to find every little piece of badass tone that guitar has in it. A really inspirational piece and I'm sure I'll be borrowing licks off of this for a long time. Thanks, man! Blues cats everywhere are diggin' this.
Not to take away from your comment, but I think what Benson is doing with the knobs has more to do with volume and making sure he doesn’t feed back.
@@spb7883 ahhhh that’s why it’s so crunchy right at the beginning.
@@menriquez89 Yeah 60s fender amps had a tendency to crunch up if you werent careful, ESPICALLY with a hollowbody.
I’ve never seen anybody mess with the knobs on their guitar more than this. Also, GB is a master.
it's almost a OCD
I suppose he wasn’t happy with his tone?
OCD??? I don't know, but it works!!!
Carlos Santana is a serious competitor in that domain!
You can tell how he changes his technique after turning the knob. He knows exactly the sound he wants out of the guitar at any given moment.
I saw him playing this very theme in Paris in 1969. The concert featured K. Burrell. B. Kessel and G. Green. GB was playing as first part of the show.
The audience was stunned. Unforgettable...
Has so much feels AND the chops! Unreal talent
Amazing stuff, thanks for sharing! Cookin' all over with these young cats. Love Dr lonnie's playing and of course incredible what George is doing. Ronnie is also spot on!
Thanks for confirming my suspicion that that was indeed Dr Lonnie.
This is great! I hope someone eventually digs up the Grant Green footage from the same festival.
Someone did. no video, just pictures.
Kenny burrell was there too I think..
I would love to see another song from this set..
@@edcherry9282 As do I, Ed.
George never sacrificed the groove for flashy playing. You can tap your foot to that all the way through.
Benson thru a big hollow body gibson thru a blackface twin thru 2 2x12 cabinets! TONE BABY!
Georgies got it goin on here baby! The whole combo is smoking!! I love the slightly overdriven tone George gets here!!!
1000 THANKS 2 U 4 SHARING - THIS GREAT GUITAR-
PLAYER of WORLD-CLASS and His FANTASTIC ORCH !!!
George Benson-guitar; Lonnie Smith-organ; Ronnie Cuber-baritone saxophone; Billy Kaye-drums.
This is so fabulous. What a special experience to have been there. I saw him in the late 80s.
Not a note out of place. Just amazing
Great playing...too bad they didn't have HD cameras back then. And better audio recording gear. His tone is terrible...not like his later LPs.
I never noticed his CKT disorder before. Gibson's volume and tone knobs are not known to adjust themselves at will.
Although greatly influenced by Wes (and which guitarist wasn’t??!) GB had his own distinct sound very early on… great to see footage of drummer Billy Kaye
Amazing! I don't think enough credit has been given George Benson, he has a fine voice too, just love him!
At 23 he's very particular with his sound - the constant knob adjusting. AND you see where his voicing originates: a dynamic attack, blues infusion, style. What a treasure to guitar.
How did you get this? George was born killing it
Sounding freaking awesome George...x. love his chops
There's something called Swing that if you don't have it..,.better change for something else...maybe..
Such a natural and perfect swing it's stunning ! The Cookbook is a wonderful recording
Dr. Lonnie Smith on "Hammond B3" !
Couldn't resist working that line out at 3.00 :) George Benson Line - Video Notebook #01 I think I've played this video about a thousand times now :)
Thanks for uploading it!
Mike, you are welcome-- a ton of great guitar lines in this performance!
Such a cool sounding line! He plays pretty much the same line (ends differently though) but slower at about 1:40 on ain't that peculiar if you want to get a more detailed listen of it :)
***** Ah! Thought I'd heard it before! Love this album. Thanks :)
Wow! 😮 What an amazing and historic performance! 👏 It must have been incredible to see this live in person
Wow! I had no idea George was performing that yearly! I'm much more familiar with his 70s and 80s work.
Man I was 3 then now I'm 57 lol
A Fender Bassman, nice choice George, this is a wonderful historical document, certainly but it sounds so fresh and hip, timeless
This feels like a rock n roll solo that suddenly turns jazzy then goes a bit rock than jazzy then rock.
Not Rock. This is definitely an R&B feel from that era
@@haloskater24 my ears differ. I hear a little r&b, a little jazz, and a little rock (particularly a little rock to come down the line). In any case it’s very stimulating and rich at the same time.
No one was playing guitar like this at that time. True virtuoso. Blown away by his facility with the instrument at this young stage of his career. His funky phrasing …my goodness. Definite influence from Grant Green and the great organists of the era.
I love the variation in tone, distortion and volume as George is searchin for the perfect balance.
I got to see him Benson in a small club in 1972. Simply amazing. His voice is so strong that he didn't even sing in the microphone.
Wes was alive at that time !!
@@jorgemauriciomercado288 yes of course, and he was amazing and hugely influential for Benson as well. But just like Wes elevated the instrument, so did Benson. Another icon that elevated jazz guitar at the time was Pat Martino.
yeah
The great and legendary Benson 🙌 ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ ever unique and master of his craft 🙌 🎸🎸🎸🎸🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥