Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards

The 1st Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards will pay tribute to one of the biggest pioneers in the Smooth Jazz genre - George Benson. The guitar legend will be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement award. Each subsequent year a different trendsetter in the world of Smooth Jazz will receive the same award.

The Stories
Everyone has at least one good George Benson story. We asked the Smooth Jazz world to share theirs.

"To have recorded with (even placed a song on an album of) George Benson was a career defining moment for me. But more than that, as one who pursues my instrument with passion, I marveled at what he did there in the studio when he wasn't recording. PRACTICED CONTINUALLY!" - Kirk Whalum

"I just remember listening to "Weekend in LA," over and over and over in my bedroom trying to play along with the licks-and failing miserably! I just wished I could have been there in that room-the Roxy on Sunset Blvd that fateful night, when that music was captured. George Benson has given the world so much amazing, heartfelt and soulful musical moments, live and on record...and as a musician, I could never begin to thank him enough for the inspiration he has given me on so many levels. He was one of the first to show the world that jazz CAN appeal to a huge audience, and the world has become a better place because of it...Congratulations to you, George on this most-deserving recognition." - Dave Koz

George and I shared the stage at the Coors amphitheater in Denver and when we met backstage after the show I was so delighted to find out what a great guy he was. Musically there is nobody like him. He is an original. He is an innovator. He is George Benson. - Michael Lington

I met George when I was playing with Tony Williams in 1978. George had just recorded a track on Tony's Joy of Flying Album. Tony told us that George had been calling him and asking him which "take" he had used for George's solo on that tune. He kept pestering him, wanting his favorite take to be the one that was used. I remember being so impressed that a guy of his stature would care so much about his performance on one tune of one record in a career so vast as his. He was a true musician who cared about the music first.
- Tom Grant

"A big congrats to you George on this well deserved recognition of the great contributions you have made in your long history of performing and recording. We all hope you continue making your unique brand of music for many years to come!" - Bob James

"Working with George has been one of the greatest things to happen to me. There is so much I can say about George, this one instance will give you an insight as to the person he is; When I was 19, and with very little experience, he invited me to tour with his band. He provided the encouragement and belief in me to mature as a musician. Sometimes I feel this occurred at the expense of his own career efforts and the only reward being, simply, helping me achieve my dreams. This is the person George is to me. I will be forever grateful." - Earl Klugh

Funny story, we were cutting tracks for the song Jay Graydon, Bill Champlin and myself wrote called "Turn Your Love Around" and I was there early checking out the charts. I was dressed like a punk, ripped up jeans, pendleton and George comes in and sees me. We have not met yet and thinking I was a roadie he said "Hey man, take my suits out to the car" and hands me his suits. I looked at him, smiled and said nothing. I took his suits out to the car. He is freaking George Benson. I came back in and the Jay Graydon his producer came in and took George out to meet me. We all had a laugh when he found out who I was and why I was there. - Steve Lukather of Toto

"The best way to describe my friend, George Benson, is to call him the Michael Jordan of guitar. It has been a pleasure through the years to enjoy his wonderful discography of music, his masterful approach to his guitar and vocals, and the personality and integrity of the man himself. I've had the pleasure of sharing both the stage and recording projects with George and each experience has been an enhancement to my life in so many ways. Congratulations on your Lifetime Achievement Award and thank you so much for your undying inspiration."
- Gerald Albright

I have had the opportunity to perform on stage with George Benson, and to get to know him. He really is a 'Godfather' in the jazz world, yet his looks and playing seem so much more like a young turk! He is such a personable and humble GENTLEMAN, and has religious beliefs and practices that exude love for all and a willingness to let go of the ego altogether. He and I share one thing, and that is that his musical interests and abilities encompass both the mainstream AND the contemporary jazz camps.... When he arrived on the scene years ago, he refused to be pigeon-holed into any jazz format ... he just CAME TO PLAY! The world finally heard...
- Gabriel Mark Hasselbach

"I had the pleasure of meeting George for the 1st time in 1971 or 1972. We were at New York Town Hall for a kind of guitarist spectacular. We shared the same dressing room, and George was doing an impersonation of Billy Ekstine that killed me. I asked him then, "George, if you can sing like that, what are you doing playing guitar? Fortunately for me, and millions of other admirers, he kept it all going. Bravo George!" - John McLaughlin

"I was introduced to his "Uptown" record by Stevie Ray Vaughan. It's a great record!" - Eric Johnson

"George was a big inspiration to me as I was learning to play guitar and while I was the lead guitar player in the Jefferson Starship. He is still inspiring me in my own solo career. Before I had ever sold one single record I would listen to George's guitar playing in my bedroom. As a teenager I would play along with his music and try and follow his style of rhythmic and soulful phrasing. I loved the way he would sing the same melodies and riffs he was playing on the guitar and I began to try and master that same technique in my bedroom. My parents were probably cringing in the living room at first! I actually did a few concerts with George Benson and my own band on the same bill. I got to hang out backstage with him and as much as I wanted to tell him all these stories all I could do was smile and enjoy his playing and singing. I have to add he seems like a really nice guy" - Craig Chaquico

"I was waiting to hear it. As a young musician I heard the sound vaguely in my head but it was raw and undefined. I knew that what I wanted to hear had deep straight-ahead jazz roots and at the same time was modern, funky and soulful. Then I heard George Benson and there it was everything I had been waiting for. Before I had "officially" decided to become a guitar player, George Benson was playing at a nearby club. I was waiting on tables at the time and couldn't afford a ticket. It was pouring rain so I ducked under an awning and peered through the crack in the door. Luckily Mr. Benson was in my direct line of sight. Two exhilarating hours later, I didn't know it, but the seeds of my future had been firmly planted that night." - Joyce Cooling

"I was in Minneapolis in December 1995 to perform a concert and after the show the promoters asked if they could take me out on the town. I suggested that we go to the Dakota Jazz Club since earlier that day I had read in the newspaper about Ricky Peterson performing there along with members of his family. We arrived at the club around 1AM and there were about twenty or so patrons' remaining as the night was winding down. We sat at a table near the stage and at the table directly in front of us was a gentleman sitting alone. Ricky finished playing a jazz arrangement of "The Little Drummer Boy" and announced to the crowd that there was a special guest in the audience and invited him up to the stage. The man who was sitting right in front of me stood up and went to the stage - it was George Benson! He performed a beautiful arrangement of "When I Fall in Love" and I was thrilled to see him in such a casual and intimate setting. It was an incredible night that I will never forget." - Les Sabler

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"The first time I heard him was at the Bottom Line in NYC. My father took me when I was about 16. He was absolutely amazing! I wasn't into 'jazz' yet, but his mastery of the guitar was astounding! There was no singing at the time...that would come later. Some years later, when Special EFX was on the same festival as Benson, in Detroit, I got to meet him at soundcheck. I remember that he was instantly friendly and gracious, and humorous standing there saying hello to me, and complimenting ME on my abilities, while noodling on his jazzbox. That 'noodling' was beyond anything I could possibly do on the guitar, even today! That's how talented Benson is! His goofing around on the guitar is in the stratosphere of 6 string heaven! All in all I've loved his work, through all the different musical periods." - Chieli Minucci

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