Breezin'
Encyclopedia
Breezin' is an album by jazz
/soul
guitarist
George Benson
.
The album marked the beginning of Benson's most successful period commercially. Breezin topped the Pop
, Jazz and R&B album charts in Billboard and spun off two hit singles, the title song (which has become a smooth jazz
standard) and "This Masquerade," which was a top ten pop
and R&B hit. The album itself was certified triple Platinum by the RIAA.
The album won multiple prizes in the 19th Grammy Awards (1976). Breezin won Best Pop Instrumental Performance
for Benson and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
for Al Schmitt
, while "This Masquerade" won Record of the Year
for Tommy LiPuma
and Benson.
Gábor Szabó
, a Hungarian jazz guitarist, recorded the original version of the title track Breezin, and has expressed disdain for Benson's success with his arrangement.
In 2004, Donny Osmond
redid the song as Breeze On By
, using the original arrangement and guitar licks and adding a vocal track.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
/soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
George Benson
George Benson
George Benson is a ten Grammy Award winning American musician, whose production career began at the age of twenty-one as a jazz guitarist....
.
The album marked the beginning of Benson's most successful period commercially. Breezin topped the Pop
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, Jazz and R&B album charts in Billboard and spun off two hit singles, the title song (which has become a smooth jazz
Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
standard) and "This Masquerade," which was a top ten pop
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and R&B hit. The album itself was certified triple Platinum by the RIAA.
The album won multiple prizes in the 19th Grammy Awards (1976). Breezin won Best Pop Instrumental Performance
Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance was awarded between 1969 and 2011.*In 1969 it was awarded as Best Contemporary-Pop Performance, Instrumental*From 1970 to 1971 it was awarded as Best Contemporary Instrumental Performance...
for Benson and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
The Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical has been awarded since 1959. The award had several minor name changes:*In 1959 the award was known as Best Engineered Record - Non-Classical...
for Al Schmitt
Al Schmitt
Al Schmitt is a recording engineer and record producer.-Early career:Schmitt grew up in New York City. After serving in the U.S. Navy he began working at Apex Recording Studios at the age of 19. In the late 1950's Schmitt moved to Los Angeles and became a staff engineer at Radio Recorders on Santa...
, while "This Masquerade" won Record of the Year
Grammy Award for Record of the Year
The Record of the Year is one of the four most prestigious Grammy Awards presented annually. It has been awarded since 1959.-History:The honorees through its history have been:*1959-1965: Artist only.*1966-1998: Artist and producer....
for Tommy LiPuma
Tommy LiPuma
Tommy LiPuma is an American music producer. In his long career, he has worked with many musicians, including Barbra Streisand, Miles Davis, Al Jarreau, Anita Baker, Natalie Cole, Claudine Longet, Dave Mason, the Yellowjackets, Michael Franks, Diana Krall, and The Story...
and Benson.
Gábor Szabó
Gábor Szabó
Gábor Szabó was a Hungarian jazz guitarist, famous for mixing jazz, pop-rock and his native Hungarian music.-Biography:...
, a Hungarian jazz guitarist, recorded the original version of the title track Breezin, and has expressed disdain for Benson's success with his arrangement.
In 2004, Donny Osmond
Donny Osmond
Donald Clark "Donny" Osmond is an American singer, musician, actor, dancer, radio personality, and former teen idol. Osmond has also been a talk and game show host, record producer and author. In the mid 1960s, he and four of his elder brothers gained fame as the Osmond Brothers on the long...
redid the song as Breeze On By
Breeze On By
"Breeze On By" is a smooth jazz pop song co-written and performed by Donny Osmond, influenced by George Benson's '70s hit "Breezin'". It is from the December 2004 Donny Osmond album "What I Meant To Say"...
, using the original arrangement and guitar licks and adding a vocal track.
Track listing
Personnel
- George Benson - guitar, vocals
- Jorge DaltoJorge DaltoJorge Dalto was a pop, jazz and Afro-Latin pianist and the former musical director for George Benson. He also performed with Tito Puente, Grover Washington, Fuse One, Gato Barbieri, Willie Colon and others...
- piano, clavinet - Ronnie FosterRonnie FosterRonnie Foster is an American funk and soul-jazz organist, and record producer. His albums recorded for Blue Note Records in the 1970s has obtained a cult following after the emergence of acid-jazz.-Biography:...
- electric piano, Moog synthesizer - Phil UpchurchPhil UpchurchPhil Upchurch is an American jazz and R&B guitarist and bassist.Upchurch started his career working with The Kool Gents, The Dells, and The Spaniels before going on to work with Curtis Mayfield, Otis Rush and Jimmy Reed. He then returned to Chicago to play and record with Woody Herman, Stan Getz,...
- rhythm guitar - Ralph MacDonaldRalph MacDonaldRalph MacDonald is an American percussionist and song-writer. He joined Harry Belafonte's band at age 17. He wrote the Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway song "Where is the Love" with songwriting partner William Salter. Probably his best-known composition is the Grover Washington, Jr...
- percussion - Stanley Banks - bass
- Claus OgermanClaus OgermanClaus Ogerman is a German musical arranger/ orchestrator, conductor, and composer, best known for his works with Antonio Carlos Jobim, Frank Sinatra and Diana Krall.-Life and work:...
- arranger, conductor - Harvey Mason, Sr. - drums
- Noel Newbolt - Associate Producer
See also
- List of number-one albums of 1976 (U.S.)
- List of number-one R&B albums of 1976 (U.S.)
External links
- Breezin at MyspaceMyspaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
(streamed copy where licensed)