TV BROADCASTS

A true virtuoso, George Benson already had over a decade's experience as a bandleader, plus chart-topping success on the US jazz listings, by the time he scored his mainstream breakthrough with the Billboard No.1 album Breezin'. Exemplifying his laidback jazz-funk crossover style, that album spawned standalone hit singles such as the title track and This Masquerade, establishing Benson as one of the most sought-after guitarists among his peers. As this compilation of live TV appearances shows, everyone from Latin rock god Carlos Santana to easy-listening icon Dionne Warwick queued up to perform with him, though, as the 70s wound on, Benson remained a star enough on his own, with a string of hit albums for Warner Bros ensuring that his smooth-toned style set the pace for jazz guitar throughout the decade and into the 80s. Takes on jazz standards such as Nature Boy and Take Five also earn Benson top marks as an interpreter - a connector of past and present on a collection of performances than remain timeless.