Big Boss Band is the 1990 studio album of American musician George Benson on Warner Bros. featuring the Count Basie Orchestra. This is Benson's second consecutive album which returns to his jazz roots after his successful pop career in the 1980s, and also his debut as sole producer of an album. The genre is mainly big band swing with some Michel Legrand and R&B thrown in.
Concept In his liner notes, Benson writes that in 1983 he made a promise to Count Basie "to do his (Basie's) music justice" on an album such as Big Boss Band. He continues: "The spirit of the Basie Legacy permeated these sessions as I approached each one (song) in the way I believed the Count would have wanted." He thanks to Frank Foster III for his contribution and notes that he "was Basie's only choice" to arrange this album.
Reception
The album was criticized by jazz writers for not being jazzy enough, for the vocal performance and for not being able to grab the opportunity of making a jazz classic.
Awards Frank Foster received Grammy Award for his arrangement of George Benson's composition "Basie's Bag" (Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band, 1990).
Track listing
Personnel as on album cover
Musicians: George Benson – guitar, vocals (1, 3–9) Count Basie Orchestra (1–4, 6, 8–10): Carl "Ace" Carter – acoustic piano Charlton Johnson – guitar Cleveland Eaton – bass Duffy Jackson – drums David Glasser – alto saxophone, alto sax solo (2) Danny Turner – alto saxophone Johnny Williams – baritone saxophone Frank Foster III – arrangements (1–5, 8–10), tenor saxophone, tenor sax solo (2) Kenneth Hing – tenor saxophone Doug Miller – tenor saxophone Clarence Banks – trombone Melvin Wanzo – trombone Tim Williams – trombone Bill Hughes – bass trombone George Cohn – trumpet Bob Ojeda – trumpet, backup trumpet solo (2), arrangements (6) Byron Stripling – trumpet, backup trumpet solo (4) Mike Williams – trumpet
Additional Musicians: Barry J. Eastmond – acoustic piano (3), keyboards (3) Terry Burrus – keyboards (5) Richard Tee – keyboard bass (5) David Witham – keyboards (5) Ron Carter – bass (3) Bashiri Johnson – percussion (5) Ralph MacDonald – percussion (5) Carmen Bradford – vocals (3)
New York Horns (5): Larry Farrell – trombone Paul Faulise – trombone Keith O'Quinn – trombone James Pugh – trombone Randy Brecker – trumpet Jon Faddis – trumpet Earl Gardner – trumpet Lew Soloff – trumpet
Robert Farnon Orchestra (7): Robert Farnon – arrangements uncredited UK musicians
Production: George Benson – producer, liner notes Al Schmitt – co-producer (Track 7), recording, mixing Peter Darmi – recording Elliot Scheiner – recording Dave Russell – additional recording Jeff Toone – additional recording Ed Rak – mixing Greg Calbi – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York, NY) Russ Defilippis – production assistant for Broadway Productions Emile Charlap – musical contractor Aaron Woodward – musical contractor Lucrecia Snead – project administrator Michon C. Stanco – album package coordinator Mary Ann Dibs – art direction Lorna Stovall – design Robert Hakalski – photography Robin Lynch – grooming Alexander White – styling Ken Fritz Management, L.A. – direction
Charts Chart (1990) Peakposition Australian Albums (ARIA) N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.150 US Top Contemporary Jazz Albums3
References