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George Benson Irreplaceable Release Date: 2004 01 06 Label: Universal Distribution A few decades ago, when the release of a George Benson album was an event for either jazz guitar or R&B vocal enthusiasts, his projects indeed lived up to the album title he employs here. While the new collection probably won't be an essential part of the Benson enthusiast's library, it's fun to see him trying to stay in the post-millennial urban groove hip with some of the younger generation's top songwriter/producers like Joshua Thompson (who's produced for O-Town, Aretha Franklin, and Babyface) and Joe. Those who wish he'd remember his prowess as a jazz guitarist have to content themselves with its general background capacity behind pleasant romantic vocal textures and easy grooving hip-hop shuffle grooves. Fortunately, Benson's in particularly fine voice, and most of the hooks are catchy from the get go. Conceptually, the best tunes are "Six Play" (which we soon realize is a love song to his six-string) and "Cell Phone," which postulates the idea that God and our late loved ones are accessible by wireless. There are a few stylistic deviations from the basic cool formula here, most notably the gospel-tinged "Whole Man," and the lush, gently exotic, flamenco-flavored soul tune "Strings of Love." The hope is that Benson's collaborations with the hipsters will expose his legendary talents to the kids who might otherwise shy away from the charms of an elder statesman. Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide Tracks: Title Composer Time 1 Six Play Fiore, Thompson, Clark 4:13 2 Whole Man Shoshyne, Thompson, Irving, Smith, Bell 3:52 3 Irreplaceable Clark, Fiore, Thompson 4:17 4 Loving Is Better Than Leaving Clark, Thomas, Thompson 4:15 5 Strings of Love Rich, Thompson, White, Fiore 3:27 6 Cell Phone Thompson, Beasley, Thompson 4:12 7 Black Rose Thomas, Thompson 4:40 8 Stairway to Love Longott, Thompson, Patrick 4:20 9 Reason for Breathing Patrick, Thompson, Wilson, Thomas, Andrews 4:50 10 Missing You Thomas, Robinson, Thompson, Kelly 3:22 Releases: Year Type Label 2003 CD Universal Distribution 2004 CD Universal International 2004 CD GRP Records

Member Of: The George Benson Quartet More >> Similar Artists: Stevie Wonder Mark Whitfield Al Jarreau Earl Klugh Mark Colby More >>

Influenced By: Wes Montgomery Charlie Christian Tal Farlow Louis Armstrong Grant Green More >> Followers: Kem John Abercrombie Kenny Poole Kevin Eubanks Melvin Taylor More >>

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