Refreshed

THE GEORGE BENSON QUARTET
It's Uptown (Columbia/Legacy)
The George Benson Cookbook (Columbia/Legacy)
Though best known for a series of bland, soulless pop hits in the 70s and 80s ("Give Me the Night," "Turn Your Love Around"), George Benson started his long career as a jazz guitarist. After an apprenticeship with organist Brother Jack McDuff, Benson released his debut album The New Boss Guitar of George Benson on jazz boutique label Prestige before signing to Columbia under the stewardship of legendary producer/A&R man John Hammond. It's Uptown, originally released in 1966, will be a revelation to fans who associate Benson with quiet storm jazz and R&B. Fronting a crack soul-jazz quartet featuring organist Lonnie Smith and baritone saxist Ronnie Cuber, Benson lays down quicksilver melody lines and burning solos with a passion and skill of which present-day listeners might not think him capable. It's a surprisingly diverse platter, encompassing soul jazz ("Myna Bird Blues," "Minor Chant"), R&B standards ("Ain't That Peculiar"), bossa nova ("J.H. Bossa Nova"), easy listening ("Willow Weep For Me") and straight bop (two versions of "Clockwise"). He applies his trademark breezy vocal style to a handful of standards, including a bizarrely conceived romp through Gershwin's "Summertime" that dispels every bit of the sultry heat for which it's famous, but the vocal tracks sound almost like aberrations next to the instrumental ones. Offhand singing aside, It's Uptown presents Benson's capabilities in a flattering light.

As good as that record is, it's just a taste of the sound Benson would bring to fruition with 1967's The George Benson Cookbook. With a program consisting mainly of Benson originals, the record has a laserbeam focus its predecessor lacks. Benson sticks mainly to post-bop arrangements here, incorporating elements of blues, bossa nova and R&B into his performances, rather than attempting to adapt those styles to jazz. Many of the songs find the Quartet augmented by guest musicians, including R&B sax star King Curtis, trombonist Benny Green and, on two of the bonus tracks, trumpet legend Blue Mitchell. "The Cooker," "Benson's Rider," "Benny's Back" and a joyful cover of "Jumpin' With Symphony Sid" leave plenty of room for Benson to stretch out and live up to his early hype. He generously shares solo space with Green and Smith as well. Even the vocal numbers, an exuberant "All of Me" and a surprisingly raw take on Little Willie John's "Let Them Talk," score bullseyes. This Cookbook has so many good recipes you'll wish Benson had never hit the kitchen with any other tome. Michael Toland

For fans of: Wes Montgomery, Mark Whitfield, Russell Malone