The George Benson Cookbook

Released in 1966 on Columbia Records, The George Benson Cookbook is the second studio album by the legendary guitarist. Produced by John Hammond, the record features the George Benson Quartet, notably including Lonnie Smith on the Hammond B3 organ and Ronnie Cuber on baritone saxophone. This lineup is crucial to the album's 'soul jazz' identity, a subgenre that blended the harmonic complexity of hard bop with the rhythmic accessibility of gospel and R&B. At this stage in his career, Benson was primarily known as a protégé of Wes Montgomery, and his playing here reflects that influence through his use of octaves and fluid, melodic phrasing. However, his technical facility on tracks like 'Jumpin’ With Symphony Sid' shows a burgeoning individual style characterized by incredible speed and precision. While Benson would later achieve massive commercial success as a vocalist, his singing on 'All of Me' serves as a rare early glimpse into that future. The album remains a cornerstone of the 1960s soul-jazz movement and is highly regarded by guitarists for its pure, unadulterated tone and virtuosic execution.