Big Boss Band


Big Boss Band is the 1990 studio album of George Benson on Warner Bros. featuring the Count Basie Orchestra. This is Benson's second consecutive album which returns to his jazz roots after his successful pop career in the 1980s, and also his debut as sole producer of an album. The genre is mainly big band swing with some Michel Legrand and R&B thrown in.

Concept

In his liner notes, Benson writes that in 1983 he made a promise to Count Basie "to do his music justice" on an album such as Big Boss Band. He continues: "The spirit of the Basie Legacy permeated these sessions as I approached each one in the way I believed the Count would have wanted." He thanks to Frank Foster III for his contribution and notes that he "was Basie's only choice" to arrange this album.

Reception

The album was criticized by jazz writers for not being jazzy enough, for the vocal performance and for not being able to grab the opportunity of making a jazz classic.

Awards

received Grammy Award for his arrangement of George Benson’s composition “Basie’s Bag”.

Track listing

Personnelas on album cover

Musicians:
Count Basie Orchestra :
Additional Musicians:
New York Horns :
Robert Farnon Orchestra :
Production: