Robben just wasnt warmed up . He had to step on Georges stage and immediately blow at that tempo . m, there is another video of them playing together , recorded literally weeks after this . George sits in on Robbens gig . George still sounds amazing, but Robben definitely shows he can burn too , once hes warm. The video is called Robben Ford and George Benson jam at Mikkels .
generally when we see a master such as Robben fumble a tad, it means he is in unchartered territory and stretching..this is great stuff. I have seen a few masters fumble along the way and it shows that they can and will go for it when the moment is there. Good for Robben I say...
when i was a boy (early eighties), i went to our small town cinema once to see one of these films imported from the west, it was called "All That Jazz", starring Roy Scheider and Jessica Lange whom i've never heard of in east germany. The film started with a crowd in a theater stage, dancing to a song "on broadway" ... took me years to find out who that artist was who played that song, but that day i learned what "groving" means Thank you, George
I still listen with awe to my "New Guitarist in Town" album... recorded when GB was about 20. Robben screws up because the tempo is so fast, but if you listen he redeems himself at the end. Benson is just so full of energy! Intense!
It's been several years since I listened to live music on radio and the first song that is played: "George Benson - On Broadway." On 101.7 FM Stereo and I went spastic baby! A Fan always! 'Jazzaudrey' THANK YOU for sharing. :)
awesome. never thought two of my favourite guitarists ever played on the same stage together. george is in his element here. magnificent vocal and playing as always. a musician of a galactic proportion. simply out of the world. robben is one of the coolest cat on electric guitar. tasteful choice of notes and phrasing always. check out his solo on the song, "monmouth college fight song" with the jazz fusion band, yellowjackets. for me, thats one of the greatest guitar solo ever.
Eric Clapton would be so out of his element playing this... George Benson is from another planet and guys like Clapton and Ford, while great, are not in the same universe.
When i first heard this, I thought Robben was not there. But when i really listened to it, he plays some very good stuff. It's just the difference in the styles. Robben doesn't articulate like Benson, but the shit he is playing is just as good!
Robben played some cool stuff, but his technique was not advanced enough to keep up at that tempo with Benson. World of difference between a freak nature like Benson and a mortal like Ford.
i'd love to see all the people on here who commented on Robben Ford's playing post a video of them playing this song. Also, I doubt very seriously any of you can play with RF or GB. If so, post a video of yourself playing....... I make no claims on my playing...I just know two great players when I hear them, using different 'voices'. Both are superb!!
Ashame, I was at a concert in Den Heage(the netherlands) 20 years ago ,Ford had to play the last act, only 15 people where left , love to all musiclovers \
Both are great. Robben doesn't play George's style as well as George, and George wouldn't play Robben's stuff as well as Robben. That's the reality in almost every instance in life. The key is to not try to be who you are not! You'll slip up every time...
I'm not even sure if Robben's solo was scheduled - this could be one of those ad hoc 'come on stage and sing the last song with me' moments. I've seen him play and he is excellent but he kind of goes all over the place in this solo - its like "$hit, Im on, really? Oh right, where am I" Still good for all that - and George is so gracious, there really is no edge with the guy - he always gives guests credit - I went to one gig and he let his band warm up for 30 minutes with Stanley banks leading them - it was great fun.
+JilaX - Robben is decent and I love the way he bends things and makes songs his own but people like George Benson are rare... the notes flows out of him almost like his brain isn't getting in the way - he isn't thinking about it, its just natural. I heard Eric Clapton say this once about Stevie Ray Vaughn too... Slowhand rated him most highly because he had the same touch - notes just fell out of him during a jam.
This is an amazing performance. Absolutely stunning solo from Mr. Benson. Plus his singing is out of this world. Robbens solo is a little rusty. Too Bad. But the drummer is one of the best drummers i have seen yet.
What ? Yeah !So he had an off- night . He looks about 20 here, probably shittin' himself.Theres a few vids with Miles where he really shines .He has become an innovative player .
Robben's one of my all-time favorites -- great phrasing and touch, unbelievable tone, really tasty playing with enough sophistication to keep things interesting -- but he totally blows it here! He must have been really nervous to play with George. Plenty of people may disagree, but I don't think Robben really came into his own until relatively far along in his career.
I really hate those people that saying Robben Ford playing is bad. Off course his playing is not very good here but don't forget this is not his territory. This is pure Chorge Benson style who can play like this. If Robben is playing his own style and song i want to here Benson playing. It will be the same disapointing. Don't forget they are both very good players but have there own style.
Robben's just doing what Robben does - not too shabby... (besides..let's see what YOU come up with if they'd drop you in that shark pond). The keyboard player ...welll...it WAS the 80's.
