Welcome back to Guitardoor.com, where we celebrate the true legends of the guitar. Today, we focus on an icon who achieved the rare and remarkable feat of conquering both the demanding world of pure jazz and the global stage of mainstream pop: the incomparable, Grammy-winning superstar, George Benson. A phenomenal virtuoso in the lineage of Wes Montgomery, Benson first emerged as a blazing bebop prodigy before evolving into a silky-smooth vocalist and R&B star, all while maintaining his status as one of the most fluid and recognizable guitarists on the planet.
The Two Sides of Benson
The musical journey of George Benson is a tale of two incredible, intertwined careers. He began as a jazz wunderkind, recording his first album as a leader in the mid-1960s. His early style was deeply rooted in hard bop and soul jazz, characterized by blistering, horn-like single-note lines played with incredible speed, rhythmic drive, and a deep sense of swing. He was a pure, straight-ahead jazz guitarist of the highest order, earning the respect of the entire jazz community.
Then, in the mid-1970s, his career transformed with the release of the landmark album, Breezin’. On this record, he began to showcase his smooth, soulful singing voice alongside his guitar. He blended his sophisticated jazz sensibilities with polished R&B grooves and pop melodies, creating a sound that was an instant global sensation. A signature element of his style emerged during this period: his incredible ability to sing or scat a melody in perfect unison with his intricate guitar solos. This unique and difficult skill became a beloved hallmark, showcasing the intimate and seamless connection between his vocal and instrumental artistry.
The Anatomy of Smooth: Technique and Tone
George Benson’s fluid and powerful sound is the result of a highly unique and efficient picking technique. Unlike most players, he holds his pick at a steep angle, almost perpendicular to the strings, and employs a rest-stroke technique (common in gypsy jazz). After picking a note, the pick immediately comes to rest on the adjacent string. This method produces a remarkably loud, full, and rounded tone with a powerful attack and allows him to play with incredible speed and precision.
Following in the footsteps of his hero, Wes Montgomery, Benson is also a true master of octave playing. He can flawlessly play complex melody lines on two strings an octave apart, a technique that creates a rich, full, and instantly recognizable sound that has become a signature part of his musical vocabulary.
His choice of gear is iconic, defined by one of the longest and most successful signature partnerships in guitar history with Ibanez. He is famous for his signature model hollow-body jazz guitars, particularly the GB10. These are typically smaller-bodied than traditional jazz boxes, designed to his specifications for comfort, and feature custom floating pickups that deliver a warm, clear, and articulate tone without interfering with the top’s vibration. To achieve his signature smooth sound, he has long used heavy-gauge flatwound strings, which minimize finger noise and produce a mellow, classic jazz tone.
For amplification, Benson has often favoured solid-state amplifiers for their reliability and pristine clean sound, most famously the Polytone Mini-Brute. He has also used high-headroom Fender tube amps. The goal has always been to achieve a pure, warm, and transparent tone that allows the natural voice of his Ibanez guitar and the nuances of his masterful technique to shine through.
Essential Benson: A Journey Through Jazz and Pop
George Benson’s discography is a brilliant showcase of his dual talents as a virtuoso instrumentalist and a beloved pop star. To get a sense of his incredible range, these three tracks are essential listening.
“Breezin'”
“On Broadway”
“Clockwise”
George Benson is a true living legend, a musician who successfully bridged the gap between artistic integrity and massive commercial appeal without ever compromising his incredible talent. He brought the sophisticated sound of jazz guitar to millions of listeners around the world, all while becoming a beloved vocal star. His fluid technique, his warm tone, and his incredible melodic sense have cemented his legacy as one of the most important and successful guitarists of all time
“George Benson in Cape Town” by André-Pierre is licensed under CC BY 2.0
