Some but not all of guitarist
George Benson's 1966-1967 Columbia sides are included on this double LP originally released in 1976 -- plus some unreleased songs and other tunes that he recorded under organist
Lonnie Smith's name. Fitting into the soul-jazz/hard bop idiom,
Benson is mostly heard in a quartet with organist
Smith, baritonist
Ronnie Cuber, and drummer Jimmy Lovelace, although some selections add horns (including trumpeter
Blue Mitchell) and more players in the rhythm section. At this point,
Benson was still heavily influenced by
Wes Montgomery and
Charlie Christian, but he already had his own approach. The majority of the songs are basic originals by
Benson or
Smith, and the emphasis is on soulful swinging. Fine music. ~ Scott Yanow