You might not feel like playing pretty all the time. Instead, you might want to play something nasty....you might want to play something out of context with the tune. It might be a note that creates so much tension it becomes unpleasant, but you want it to sound that way.
George BensonThe first time I tried to sing along with my guitar, everybody in the studio booed. They all said it wouldn't work.
George BensonOf course we've lost so many superstars who've made jazz what it is. We've lost so many musicians who created new things and changed the way we think about music and who took jazz to a new level. So jazz is suffering from that. But we still have a lot of incredible people playing jazz in the world. We have a lot of people leading the way.
George BensonLenny Breau dazzled me with his extraordinary guitar playing... I wish the world had the opportunity to experience his artistry.
George BensonLarry Carlton is an incredibly versatile guitarist who has been a major force for guitar for many years. He is easily recognizable - all you have to do is hear him once and from that point on you'll be a fan, just like me. It gives me great pleasure to extend congratulations to Larry on his 2011 George Benson Lifetime Achievement Award. Congratulations !
George BensonGuitar gigs were everywhere in the '50s, and I started diddling around so I could keep working. Playing honky-tonk, simple stuff. I took a few gigs with an organ band that put me out front.
George BensonMy whole career from the early 70s on has been mind-blowing. I didn't imagine in my life that I would ever be considered a guitar player first of all because I started off as a singer.
George BensonI listen to other guitar players, yeah. It gives me new concepts and shows me where the instrument is going for the future and it is going some places. There are some musicians who are really putting out a good vibe with new theories. I try and keep up.
George BensonI like Simon Cowell - look at how many great artists have come out of the U.K. because of him.
George BensonPeople who love jazz musicians love us when we play what we want to play and we're starving. But as soon as you commercialize your sound like Wes Montgomery did, the jazz fans and the critics are down on you!
George BensonThe less one remembers about the day before, the more the new day will be unfettered by triviality.
George BensonThe greatest guitar player in the world today for me is Paco de Lucia, who is actually Spanish.
George BensonAs my career has progressed, I've had the pleasure of playing with the baddest jazz cats on the planet. But that doesn't change my desire to entertain folks. That's really who I am.
George BensonI have been doing music all my life so everyday when I get up I expect music will be part of it.
George Benson