George Benson - Breezin' • CDs • Vinyl Records • LPs • Music Albums

cut on which Benson sings, features fine scatting on top of the guitar part and an interpretation that pleasantly apes Stevie Wonder. If the success of Breezin' tells us very little about the state of jazz, it indicates a great deal about present influences on the popular mainstream. Here is a comfortable but sophisticated jazz, R&B and MOR blend, whose light romantic style ultimately derives from and dilutes the spirit of Stevie Wonder's ballads. (RS 225)

STEPHEN HOLDEN

A key album of the 1970s, Breezin sailed all the way up to No. 1 in the charts, turning the respected jazz guitarist into a crossover pop sensation. If you can't get the addictive, mimosa-sipping title track out of your head, jump over to the smash "This Masquerade," and check out Benson's trademarked scat 'n' guitar solo style.