George Benson continues to bridge pop, jazz

October 3, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

George Benson was a respected jazz guitarist when his 1976 album “Breezin”’ broke through to the pop mainstream with the help of the hit single “This Masquerade” and changed the trajectory of his career.

Up until that point, he’d enjoyed a reputation as one of the most important artists on his instrument since Wes Montgomery. Since then, some jazz fans have lamented that he turned his back on the music.

But Benson has been more successful than some crossover performers in bringing together jazz and pop listeners. His latest album is “Guitar Man.”

“Guitar Man” seems designed to please his pop audience while also reaching out to jazz fans. Hence, the song list nods to Michael Jackson (“The Lady in My Life”) and John Coltrane (“Naima”), and the program is mostly instrumental.

From a jazz standpoint, the standout cut is “Naima,” which proves that the guitarist has lost none of his improvisational zeal. Similarly inspired is a rendition of “Paper Moon” that finds Benson in the company of pianist Joe Sample, bassist Ben Williams and drummer Harvey Mason (an entire album featuring that lineup would be sublime).

“Guitar Man” was a low-budget affair compared with some of his past albums, Benson said. That just put more focus on the music.