On the song, Jarreau and Benson are accompanied by Herbie Hancock on piano, Patrice Rushen on keyboards, Marcus Miller on bass, and Michael White on drums. George Benson’s meditative guitar playing is blues-influenced without being blues-bound, and is a vital part of the song’s interesting arrangement, which has different tempos and makes possible Jarreau’s scat singing. (“Benson’s guitar work has always captivated me, and his creamy smooth licks for ‘Mornin’’ are once again spellbinding,” wrote Joe Montague in his review.) In a tribute to Miles Davis and Bishop Tutu of South Africa, “’Long Come Tutu,” constructed by Marcus Miller with Jarreau, Jarreau’s singing is conversational and forceful and capable of leaps that seem as spiritual as they are musical. “Breezin’” is a very nice opening for an entertaining album, and is followed by Benson’s rounded, seductive guitar rhythms in “Mornin’,” a song composed by Jarreau, David Foster, and Jay Graydon, and featuring Marion Meadows on saxophone and Michael Broening on piano. (“Jarreau mixes silky smooth vocals with a staccato vocalization throughout ‘Breezin’,’” wrote Joe Montague,, January 31, 2007.) Jarreau, who has been singing since he was four years old, remains a phenomenon. Jarreau’s improvisations-sometimes wordless, sometimes in fragmented groups of phrases-seem a blend of chanting, drumming, and emotional exclamations. The collection Givin’ It Up’s introductory song, “Breezin’,” is an ode to a light approach to existence, and the song, written by Bobby Womack and recorded years ago by Benson, has new words by Al Jarreau, and begins with Jarreau’s improvised voicings sounding earthy before Jarreau’s welcoming-pleasant, soothing, nearly ethereal-reading of the lyrics. Jarreau and Benson won Grammy Awards for performances on Givin’ It Up: “Best Pop Instrumental Performance” for the song “Mornin’” and “Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance” with Jill Scott for “God Bless the Child.” In addition, the thirteen songs they have chosen express-with warm conviction, with intelligence-the most humane values, a foundation of ideals for a civilized life, for a civilized culture. George Benson, an admirer of guitarists Charlie Christian and Wes Montgomery, and singers such as Nat King Cole, Sam Cooke, Frank Sinatra, and Mario Lanza, and songwriters such as Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, and Smokey Robinson, has performed a wide spectrum of music ( Breezin’, Tenderly, Absolute Benson), as has Al Jarreau. Al Jarreau’s singing shows a renewal of passion, and compels comparison with his best work, which is for me that of We Got By and Glow, while George Benson’s singing suggests a deep vein of feeling: masculine, sure, unchanging, and Benson’s guitar playing is ever distinctive. George Benson and Al Jarreau’s collaborative album Givin’ It Up is a master class in how mature musicians can be creative, please the public, maintain integrity, and stay fresh. Executive Producers: Glen Barros, Noel Lee, and Kevin Lee