Before 2006, George Benson and Al Jarreau had crossed paths at festivals and award shows, but they had never recorded a full-length album together. Both artists peaked commercially in the late 1970s and 1980s by crossing over from pure jazz into mainstream pop and R&B. Benson brought his signature scat-along-with-guitar style and soulful crooning, while Jarreau contributed his unmatched vocal percussion, soaring range, and playful phrasing.
: In a brilliant creative swap, Jarreau sings Benson’s signature instrumental hit "Breezin'" (with newly added lyrics), while Benson plays his iconic guitar leads over Jarreau’s classic track "Mornin'".
"Givin' It Up" is a collaborative jazz album by two legendary musicians, George Benson and Al Jarreau, released in 2006. The album marks a significant reunion of two jazz greats, blending their distinctive vocals and instrumental mastery.
"Givin' It Up" is an album that effortlessly navigates through various musical genres, including jazz, pop, and R&B. The chemistry between Benson and Jarreau is palpable throughout the album, as they exchange vocals and showcase their instrumental prowess. The album features a mix of original compositions and covers, each track meticulously crafted to highlight the artists' versatility and compatibility. Before 2006, George Benson and Al Jarreau had
: A sumptuous instrumental rendition of John Legend’s hit.
The collaboration between guitar legend George Benson and vocal virtuoso Al Jarreau on their 2006 album Givin' It Up represents a monumental peak in contemporary jazz and R&B history. When two of the most decorated artists in the genre joined forces, the result was a masterclass in musicianship, phrasing, and cross-genre appeal. For audiophiles and music collectors seeking the absolute highest fidelity, tracking down this masterpiece in a lossless format like FLAC ensures that every subtle guitar nuance and vocal improvisation is preserved exactly as the artists intended. The Historic Pairing of Icons
The album is a brilliant journey through the American songbook, featuring: : In a brilliant creative swap, Jarreau sings
: Featuring a guest appearance by Paul McCartney, this track leans into raw, soulful blues territory.
: Originally a vocal pop hit for Jarreau, it is transformed into a lush instrumental showcasing Benson’s signature guitar licks. All-Star Collaborations
Givin' It Up was produced with a "Smooth Jazz" radio audience in mind, but the musicianship is strictly traditional jazz. The interplay involves complex frequencies—the snap of a guitar string versus the roundness of a vocal tone. "Givin' It Up" is an album that effortlessly
: The "Acrobat of Scat," unique for his ability to transform his voice into a horn, a percussion instrument, or a fluid soul instrument. With multiple Grammy Awards across jazz, pop, and R&B categories, Jarreau remains one of the most versatile vocalists in modern music history.
Because Givin' It Up relies heavily on dynamic range—from the quiet nuance of a nylon-string guitar to the explosive brass sections—listening to it in a lossless format ensures that none of the Grammy-winning production nuances are lost. Critical Reception and Legacy
: Benson takes the lead on guitar for Jarreau’s classic upbeat anthem, creating a perfect sonic trade-off.
FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) is a bit-perfect audio format. Unlike MP3s, which discard audio data to reduce file size, FLAC compresses the file without losing a single bit of information. When listening to Givin' It Up in FLAC:
One of the reasons collectors are still searching for this .rar archive nearly two decades later is the tracklist. It is a stunning blend of covers and originals that showcase the chemistry between the two stars.