George Benson - Giblet Gravy

LIMITED EDITION 180-GRAM VIRGIN VINYL

Released on the Verve label in 1968, Giblet Gravy marked jazz/soul guitarist George Benson's fourth album as a leader. It features Benson backed by an all-star group arranged and conducted by Tom Mcintosh, that includes such jazz luminaries as Ernie Royal, Pepper Adams, Johnny Pacheco, Billy Cobham, Ron Carter, and Herbie Hancock. According to AllMusic reviewer Richard S. Ginell, the label's "immediate goal was to groom Benson as the next Wes Montgomery (who was about to leave Verve) - and so he covers hit tunes of the day, playing either with a big band plus voices or a neat quintet anchored by Herbie Hancock, and the sound is contoured to give his guitar a warm mellow ambience. But the eclectic Benson is his own man, as his infectious repeated-interval rhythm trademark tells us on his self-composed title track. George's work is always tasty and irresistibly melodic."

Tracklist

Side A

1. Along Comes Mary
2. Sunny
3. What's New?
4. Giblet Gravy
5. Walk on By

Side B

1. Thunder Walk
2. Sack of Woe
3. Groovin'
4. Low Down and Dirty

Personnel

George Benson - Lead guitar
Herbie Hancock - Piano
Jimmy Owens - Trumpet, flugelhorn
Ernie Royal - trumpet
Snooky Young - trumpet
Pepper Adams - baritone saxophone
Alan Raph - bass trombone
Johnny Pacheco - congas
Billy Cobham - drums
Ron Carter - bass
Carl Lynch - guitar
Eileen Gilbert - backing vocals
Lois Winter - backing vocals
Albertine Robinson - backing vocals
Tom McIntosh - arranger, conductor
Esmond Edwards - producer
Val Valentin - engineering
Daniel Kramer - photography
Acy Lehman - art direction
Nat Hentoff - liner notes