George Benson LIVE - Gave Me The Night at Birmingham's Symphony Hall June 18th 2018 ....

GEORGE BENSON belting out one of his numerous hit songs at Birmingham's Symphony Hall - June 18th 2018 ...

I had the privilege last Monday, to catch jazz guitarist and disco icon GEORGE BENSON at the stunning SYMPHONY HALL in BIRMINGHAM. A 10-time Grammy award-winning artist, he's recorded 36 albums and released 50 singles and has sold in excess of 10 million records worldwide. At the tender age of 75, assisted by his amazing SIX-PIECE band (more on them later!) he effortlessly rolled back the years going through his not inconsiderable back catalogue.

His set kicked off in great style with his soul classic 'LOVE X LOVE' - that really got the party going!! The audience was a real mix, although I did notice that there weren't too many young people there, hardly surprising I suppose!

The hits kept coming, 'NEVER GIVE UP ON A GOOD THING', 'TURN YOUR LOVE AROUND', the whole of the Symphony Hall was on it's feet! GB's classic tracks were interspersed with some great moments featuring covers of well known songs that were given the 'GEORGE' treatment! After quipping that he had some Irish roots, he embarked on a surprising but beautiful rendition of 'DANNY BOY' on his now legendary Ibanez guitar. The covers also gave the band some further opportunities to shine. Already so impressive a sound for a six-piece, they truly excelled themselves during both a tender re-imagining of Stevie Wonder's 'LATELY' and the late Glen Campbell's 'WICHITA LINEMAN'. The Norah Jones' standard 'DON'T KNOW WHY' was where 4th generation musician and singer in her own right, LILIANNA DE LOS REYES  soaring vocals impressed. No surprise really as she has an excellent musical pedigree being the daughter of drummer extraordinaire WALFREDO REYES JR who has played with the likes of Boz Scaggs, Santanna, Jackson Browne, Traffic and is currently with rock legends Chicago. As we've rather neatly arrived at the band let's give them all a name check; let's start with exuberant drummer KHARI PARKER has worked with the likes Van Morrison, Boz Scaggs (again!), Beyonce and Joss Stone, MICHAEL O'NEILL on guitar and vocals has been working with George Benson since 1981 and has racked up some impressive credits with artists such as Barbara Streisand, Steve Wonder, Natalie Cole, Aretha Franklin, Michael McDonald to name but a few, he certainly showed that experience throughout the show and is a very fine singer too! Yet another George Benson collaborator was keyboard and synth player THOM HALL who added many of the essential musical trade mark sounds heard in GB's songs that other members of the band couldn't quite cover. Next up is phenomenal bass player STANLEY BANKS (not Clarke!) who has played on all of GB's studio albums and has been with him for (wait for it!) 42 YEARS!! Last but definitely not least was keyboard and musical director on the tour DAVID GARFIELD who delivered a virtuoso performance and kept the band on point all night. David has worked alongside GB since the mid 80's and has produced over 50 albums and appeared on over a 100 with musicians such as Boz Scaggs (DEFINITELY a pattern developing here!), Smokey Robinson, Michael McDonald and even with Spinal Tap, yes Spinal Tap!! So that's the band covered!

Keyboard player and MD, DAVID GARFIELD, main man GEORGE BENSON feeling the groove with MICHAEL O'NEILL on guitar and vocals at Birmingham's Symphony Hall, June 2018 ...

GB ended up playing for nearly two hours and covered pretty much everything I wanted to hear, the only omission was his wonderful version of NAT 'KING' COLE'S classic 'NATURE BOY', I was REALLY hoping he'd do that one, maybe next time!! Reflecting on the night as a whole, we the audience got into a kind of unplanned rhythm; standing up and dancing away to all the disco hits, then we all sat down for the ballads, funny how we all just ended up doing that, it just seemed the right thing to do! Before he'd finished we'd been treated to 'IN YOUR EYES', 'ON BROADWAY' and of course the seminal 'GIVE ME THE NIGHT'.

Honourable mention must also go to support act, 2-time Grammy Award nominee, acoustic blues singer songwriter ERIC BIBB. I'm slightly embarrassed to say that I hadn't been aware of him before - after hearing a mere half an hour of his catchy, bluesy self-penned songs, I am now officially a fan!!
A truly wonderful night, definitely one off my musical bucket list!