George Benson – Beyond The Blue Horizon
Rarity - Sealed
Guitar – George Benson
Bass – Ron Carter
Drums – Jack DeJohnette
Organ – Clarence Palmer
Percussion – Albert Nicholson, Michael Cameron
Written by Miles Davis (A1), Luiz Bonfa (A2), George Benson (B1-3)
1LP, Gatefold jacket
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : Black
Speed : 33 RPM
Size : 12'’
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : Pallas
Label : Speakers Corner
Original Label : CTI
Recorded in February 2–3, 1971 at Studio Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs
Engineered by Rudy van Gelder
Produced by Creed Taylor
Lacquer cut by Willem Makkee
Design by Bob Ciano
Photography by Pete Turner, Chuck Stewart
Sleeve Notes by Creed Taylor
Originally released by May 1971
Reissued in 2012
Tracks :
Side A:
1. So What?
2. The Gentle Rain
Side B:
1. All Clear
2. Ode To A Kudu
3. Somewhere In The East
Reviews :
"Having taken Benson along with him when he founded CTI, Creed Taylor merely leaves the guitarist alone with a small group on his first release. The payoff is a superb jazz session where Benson rises to the challenge of the turbulent rhythm section of Jack DeJohnette and Ron Carter, with Clarence Palmer ably manning the organ. Benson is clearly as much at home with DeJohnette's advanced playing as he was in soul/jazz (after all, he did play on some Miles Davis sessions a few years before), and his tone is edgier, with more bite, than it had been for awhile. The lyrical Benson is also on eloquent display in "Ode to a Kudu" (heard twice on the CD, as is "All Clear"), and there is even a somewhat experimental tilt toward Afro-Cuban-Indian rhythms in "Somewhere to the East." A must-hear for all aficionados of Benson's guitar." AllMusic review by Richard S. Ginell
Ratings :
AllMusic : 5 / 5 ; Discogs : 4.56 / 5 ; The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide : 3 / 5