George Benson: Walking To New Orleans

Rating: ★★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Alison Prestwood (b)
Greg Morrow (d)
Rob McNelley (g)
Kevin McKendree (p)
George Benson (v, g)

Label:

Provogue

June/2019

Media Format:

CD/LP

Catalogue Number:

PRD75811

RecordDate:

date not stated

On his 45th album, George Benson pays tribute to two of his musical heroes, the godfather of rock'n'roll, Chuck Berry, and another rock'n'roll icon and hit machine, Fats Domino. Produced by Kevin ‘The Caveman’ Shirley and recorded at Ocean Way Studios in the heart of Nashville's famous Music Row, Benson sprinkles his magic on cuts from the Berry songbook including ‘Nadine (Is It You?)’, ‘You Can't Catch Me’ and ‘How You've Changed’, while the Domino songbook is represented by ‘Rockin' Chair’, ‘Ain't That a Shame’, ‘I Hear You Knocking’ and the album's shuffling title-track. Best of all is a take on Berry's hypnotic two-chord vamp ‘Havana Moon’, which was itself inspired by Nat ‘King’ Cole's ‘Calypso Blues’ on which Cole was accompanied solely by Jack Costanzo's conga. Featuring the silkiest of strings and a beautifully understated solo from Benson, it illustrates the timeless quality of this music.

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