Most people don't know that soul singer Bobby Womack composed the luscious "Breezin'," made popular by singer-songwriter/guitarist George Benson. Well-respected Hungarian jazz musician Gabor Szabo recorded it before Benson, in 1971, and it peaked at number 43 on the R&B charts. However, after Benson released his untouchable cover in September of 1976, it went on to become a commercial success and is now considered the standard version of the song.
Benson's signature melding of pop, R&B and jazz are flawlessly captured in this sublime tune. The title says it all. This sunny song epitomizes the free and easy 70s and is as light as a breeze caressing the cheek. Benson's Django Reinhardt-like picking, the buoyant rhythm and stellar production value make this one of the many gems on Benson's triple-Platinum, Grammy-winning album Breezin'.
You can learn more about George Benson here:
About the Curator - Sonya Alexander
After graduating from UCLA, Sonya trained to be a talent agent. After realizing she belonged on the creative end, she started freelance writing, covering film festivals for Los Angeles local papers. She's written about film, video games, global affairs, wildlife conservation and, most recently, music. She specializes in classic rock, classic soul, blues, classic country, classical and world music and is tri-coastal, residing in Los Angeles, New York and New Orleans.