Benson and Jarreau never give up on music

MTV Philippines is bringing George Benson and Al Jarreau to town. The one-night only performance will be held at the titled Givin’ It Up Tour Live in Manila will be held at the Araneta Coliseum on Sept. 8. Superlatives are in order for this event. The show brings together two of the biggest names and maybe I should say two of the greatest artists ever born in the field of pop, jazz and R&B. Individually, they started to make waves in the late ‘70s and continued to do the same during the ‘80s and ‘90s. They are still doing the same up to now. In the process, they have dropped some hits and in return picked up some Grammys and other awards.

Now both in their sixties, Benson and Jarreau recently released their first album together. This is Givin’ It Up, where they do things to each other’s music and have lots of big name stars like Paul McCartney and Herbie Hancock joining in the fun while paying them tribute. Now each of Benson and Jarreau can certainly handle the stage solo, but the CD collaboration has resulted in a concert tour that includes the Philippines and we are all the richer musically for it. Filipinos love Benson and Jarreau. Like me, they do not know how the music of Givin’ It Up, would be presented. But we couldn’t care less because the solo efforts from the past of these guys are more than enough to lure us out to the Big Dome for their show.

Four of the greatest soul balladeers we have ever heard came along at almost the same time 40 years ago. They were Luther Vandross, Teddy Pendergrass, Lionel Richie and George Benson. We have already lost the chance to watch Vandross and Pendergrass perform live. We still have to see the solo Richie without the Commodores. So we should thank our lucky stars that we are getting Benson again some 20 years after his first visit.

Benson is a virtuoso jazz guitarist. Remember Breezin’? But Pinoys love him best for his hit songs. Younger singers who think of themselves also as soul artists should make careful study of the works of this man. His style is sweet, sexy and very expressive. And take note he has never been known to hold, twist, pound, cut or I should say mutilate any note in the name of soul. He has soul in his heart and does not need to show off his pipes Benson just sings and he gets his message very effectively across. His version of Here Comes the Sun is simply heaven.

This holds true be it light pop like Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love for You, or the strutting On Broadway or more dramatic stuff like The Greatest Love of All. I think of his You are the Love of My Life with Roberta Flack as one of the best duets ever recorded. And there are more. This Masquerade, In Your Eyes, Love Ballad, Unchained Melody, Give Me the Night, Love X Love, Turn Your Love Around and more.

Now Al Jarreau is something else. He sings and he also sounds great with any type of song. Like pop, We’re in This Love Together and Roof Garden, with R&B Goodhands Tonight and Compared to What, with jazz, Take Five and So Good and with some sounds that are uniquely his in recordings like Spain (I Can Recall) and Agua de Beber. They call what Jarreau does scat but I have always believed that he does more than that. Ella Fitzgerald is the queen of scat and she was really great but Jarreau makes scatting stunning.

What Jarreau does is what vocal histrionics should be like and not the shouting contests of our diva wanna-bes. Jarreau has a rhythm section permanently on call in his throat so even while all alone he can summon up a guitar, a bass or some percussion from inside him. And mind you, there is nobody around who can do this as well as he does. Some of his other hits are Mornin’, After All, Alonzo, Like a Lover, Never Givin’ Up, Boogie Down, Moonlighting, Since I Fell for You and Heaven and Earth.

Let us hope they do lots of the old hits in Monday’s show then we can also look forward to hearing the new stuff. Like watching Jarreau sing Benson’s Breezin’ while Benson brings his trusty guitar out to do Jarreau’s Mornin’ for the first time. Presenter is MTV Philippines and tickets are available at Ticketnet 911-5555.