E9: Breezin' intro

Frank Freniere · Post by **Frank Freniere** » 25 Jul 2023 3:59 am

So I’m invited to play an art gallery event with a pickup group of local musicians. The music is standards, blues, some jazz/swing numbers (think “Don’t Go To Strangers” and “St. James Infirmary”). The instrumentation is doghouse bass, cornet, sax, harmonica, 2 guitars and the pedal steel. Oh and another 6-string will be joining us.

A few minutes before we start, the 3rd guitar player strolls in, plugs in and starts playing this George Benson riff and we all kind of fall into it. At break time, come to find out that the guy is Russ DeFilippis, who played many years in George’s band -fancy that!

Here's the riff: https://youtu.be/G1QjyskJ9jw?t=19

And here's the Doug Arrington Band:

George Duncan Sypert · Post by **George Duncan Sypert** » 25 Jul 2023 12:59 pm

How neat is that. Played this song many years ago when I had a young guitar player about 19 who was a big Benson fan. I had never heard it before. Really a great song. George

Thanks Frank for posting this.

Ron Funk · Post by **Ron Funk** » 31 Jul 2023 8:04 pm

Thanks Frank -

Ron

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 1 Aug 2023 5:34 am

By coincidence, I just arranged this song for C6 lap steel yesterday. The Beginning of Benson’s move into the pop arena

Frank Freniere · Post by **Frank Freniere** » 2 Aug 2023 5:20 am

Thanks, guys.

Andy Volk wrote:By coincidence, I just arranged this song for C6 lap steel yesterday. The Beginning of Benson’s move into the pop arena

Can't wait to see your arrangement, Andy!

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 2 Aug 2023 6:43 am

I tried to not go too crazy with George's licks. It's the basic melody with a few embellishments. You can improvise with the major pentatonic scale.

https://www.volkmediabooks.com/single-a ... f-download

The chord progression just repeats over and over: D, Bm7, Em7, G/A. You could also use: Dmaj9, Bm7, Em9, G11/A.

Jack Stanton · Post by **Jack Stanton** » 11 Aug 2023 5:28 pm

Very cool story, Frank.