Friday, November 09, 2007

Al Jarreau and George Benson - Live at Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland - July - 2007


Last July 12, 2007 at Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. The music world was dazzled by a harmonic convergence of superstars when Singer/guitarist/songwriter George Benson teams with vocalist extraordinaire /songwriter Al Jarreau. Friends and label-mates for over three decades, this outing marks the first time that the two artists, both multiple GRAMMY® winners with Gold and Platinum selling albums.


Benson and Jarreau first met in the mid-1970s at the Coconut Grove Ballroom in the landmark Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Benson recalls, “Al sang lyrics to ‘Take Five’ which I’d never heard before. I’d recorded an instrumental version of the track on my album Bad Benson, so I was really checking this cat out. His style of improvising was quite interesting.” Of Benson, Jarreau adds, “George and I share something of the same age, but George can describe things he was doing as a professional at the age of 8! He was an idol within the jazz community, one that I aspired to, but I didn’t arrive on the scene with my first record until seventeen years later in 1975. George was a hero to me.” “He’s a prolific cat,” finishes the guitarist. “I’ve always loved Al, but I have a different respect for him now.”

Their music brought the concert into a different level of entertainment. Good old memories from two known jazz artists. You will enjoy watching these two giants performing at their best. Although this concert was advertise for both artists to perform together but unfortunately they only sang 1 song along with one another. The song is "Summer Breeze" The rest of the concert had individual performances from George and Al. Anyway, both exibited their best hit songs and the concert lasted for almost an hour.