Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards

The New Boss Guitar of George Benson (1964)
with the Brother Jack McDuff Quartet

1. Shadow Dancers (Benson) 4:45
2. The Sweet Alice Blues (Benson) 4:36
3. I Don't Know (6:45)
4. Just Another Sunday (2:58)
5. Will You Still Be Mine? (Adair, Dennis) 4:25
6. Easy Living (Rainger, Robin) 6:33
7. Rock-A-Bye 3:55
8. My Three Sons (Dukes, McDuff) 5:37

Originally released on LP by Prestige

"Jack McDuff made me aware of something. You know I used to complain about playing the Blues all the time because Jack played everything from a Blues point of view and if he had his way he'd play nothing but the Blues all night. (laughing) I like melody and he realized that there were some songs that had the melodic that was very important. He told me, 'George, Blues is the only music that you can play in the world that will have an audience anywhere'. If you play the Blues people will like it. That's anywhere in the world; China, Japan, Russia and you know something? I think he was right! (laughing) Everywhere we played the Blues people would stand up and take notice and the fun would begin. (laughing)" - George Benson

Album Credits
Jack McDuff Keyboards, Organ, Piano
Don Schlitten Photography
Joe Dukes Drums,
Montego Joe Drums, Percussion
Ronnie Boykins , Bass
Chris Albertson Liner Notes
Phil DeLancie Digital Remastering
Lew Futterman Producer
George Benson Main Performer, Guitar
Red Holloway Sax

"He is one of the truly great jazz guitarists of our generation. He has the ideal combination of effortless technique, unique sound, and soulful expression."
- Bob James

"I couldn't name another pure Smooth Jazz vocalist. So much of this format is cross-over vocals that aren't even jazz. When Benson starts playin' or singin' or playin' and singin' you know it's the real deal. Nothin' fabricated."
- Art Good - Jazztrax

"George, haven't seen you since Cinncinatti when you played my Benedetto guitar for an impromptu performance. It was an honour to meet you. What a sickening natural ability you have for swing and groove - not to mention those blistering bop lines. It's simply not fair! Here's to many more inspired performances and recordings from you in the future - for purely selfish reasons frankly - I'm looking for more phrases to steal!" - Chris Standring

"George Benson is simply put, one of the greatest musicians and entertainers of the last century. He is one of a handful of individuals who truly defy categorization. His technical and musical abilities are exceptional as well as unique his love of all types of music is obvious in everything he does." - Earl Klugh

"He (Joe Dukes)was the star of the band because he was the drummer and he was very flashy and different and people loved him. His finale was playing the drums backwards. After playing the devil out of the drums he stood up at the end and turned around and put the back of his heel on the bass drum and played the drum roll on the bass drum while he played the cymbals backwards and that knocked the socks off of people every night. He and I had a terrible rivalry going because we were almost the same age and we'd have conflict over women. (laughing) Red Holloway was like my dad or an older brother and he would tutor us and keep us out of trouble but he was always in trouble. (laughing). There would be guys looking for him with guns because he had their wives in his hotel room. (laughing)"
- George Benson

"George and I go back over 30 years as friends. I've known him since the '60's of course, since he was one of my all time favorite guitarists then, and still is. I recall his playing with Brother Jack (McDuff) with the inimitable Joe Dukes." - John McLaughlin