Givin' It Up

Givin' It Up is a first-time recording/collaboration between seasoned and highly celebrated jazz artists-vocalist Al Jarreau and guitarist George Benson. It contains signature classics previously recorded by both veteran artists (Benson's "Breezin" and Jarreau's "Mornin") and original music of which both gentlemen masterfully contribute their talents. Other noteworthy vocalists and musicians featured are Jill Scott, Patti Austin, Herbie Hancock, Stanley Clarke, Abe Laboriel, Chris Botti, Marcus Miller, and Beatles Legend Paul McCartney. This project also contains standards by Billie Holiday ("God Bless The Child") and Sam Cooke ("Bring It On Home To Me"), popular classics by Seals and Crofts ("Summer Breeze") and Daryl Hall ("Everytime You Go Away") along with the classic jazz-swing "Four" by the legendary Miles Davis.

It was released by Concord Records in September 2006.

At 49th Grammy Awards, Benson was awarded his 9th (or 10th) and Jarreau was awarded his 6th Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance on "God Bless The Child'" with Jill Scott. Benson also won his 10th (or 9th) Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Performance on "Mornin'".^[2]

1 Track listing
2 Personnel
3 Charts
4 Awards
5 References

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Breezin'"	Bobby Womack, Al Jarreau	5:40
2.	"Mornin'"	Jarreau, David Foster, Jay Graydon	5:02
3.	"'Long Come Tutu"	Marcus Miller, Jarreau	6:37
4.	"God Bless the Child" (featuring Jill Scott)	Billie Holiday, Arthur Herzog, Jr.	3:40
5.	"Summer Breeze"	Jim Seals, Dash Crofts	5:01
6.	"All I Am"	Rex Rideout, Phillip "Taj" Jackson	3:23
7.	"Ordinary People"	John Legend, will.i.am	5:18
8.	"Let It Rain" (featuring Patti Austin)	Barry Eastmond, Jarreau	4:54
9.	"Givin' It Up for Love"	Freddie Ravel, Jarreau	3:57
10.	"Every Time You Go Away"	Darryl Hall	4:30
11.	"Four"	Miles Davis, Jon Hendricks	5:15
12.	"Don't Start No Schtuff"	Joe Turano, Jarreau	4:44
13.	"Bring It On Home to Me" (featuring Paul McCartney)	Sam Cooke	4:25

Personnel

George Benson - Guitar, Vocals
Al Jarreau - Vocals, Vocal Percussion

Larry Williams - Keyboards, Piano (on tracks 1, 5 & 10)
A. Ray Fuller - Guitar (on tracks 1 & 5)
Dean Parks - Guitar (on tracks 1, 5, 8, 10 & 13)
Abraham Laboriel - Electric Bass (on tracks 1, 6 & 13)
Vinnie Colaiuta - Drums (on tracks 1, 4-5, 8 & 10-13)
Paulinho Da Costa - Percussion (on tracks 1, 5, 8, 10 & 13)
Marion Meadows - Saxophone (on tracks 2 &7)
Mike Broening - Piano, Keyboards, Organ (on tracks 2, 7 & 13)
Freddie Fox - Guitar (on tracks 2 & 7)
Mel Brown - Bass (on tracks 2 & 7)
Michael White - Drums (on tracks 2-3 & 7)
Herbie Hancock - Piano (on track 3)
Patrice Rushen - Keyboards, Fender Rhodes (on tracks 3-4, 6, 8 & 10-13)
Marcus Miller - Bass (on tracks 3-5, 8 & 10)
Jill Scott - Vocals (on track 4)
Rex Rideout - Piano (on track 6)
Gregg Field - Drums (on track 6)
Ricky Lawson - Drums (on track 6)
Patti Austin - Vocals (on track 8)
Chris Botti - Trumpet (on track 8)
Barry Eastmond - Keyboards (on track 8)
Bashiri Johnson - Percussion (on track 8)
Maxi Anderson - Background Vocals (on track 8)
Valerie Pinkston - Background Vocals (on track 8)
Sharon Perry - Background Vocals (on track 8)
Darlene Perry - Background Vocals (on track 8)
Lorraine Perry - Background Vocals (on track 8)
Sandra Simmons Williams - Background Vocals (on track 8)
Freddie Rave - Moog Bass, Clavinet, Organ, Fender Rhodes, Synthesizer, Drums (on track 9)
Michael O'Neill - Rhythm Guitar (on track 9)
Alethea Mills - Background Vocals (on tracks 9 & 13)
Chavonne Morris - Background Vocals (on tracks 9 & 13)
De'Ante Duckett - Background Vocals (on tracks 9 & 13)
Michael Hart Thompson - Guitar (on track 10)
Stanley Clarke - Bass (on tracks 11 & 12)
Joe Turano - Wurlitzer, Hammond B-3 (on track 12)
Paul McCartney - Vocals (on track 13)
Randy Waldman - Piano (on track 13)

Charts

Chart (2006)	Peak position
Billboard 200^[3]	58
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums^[3]	14
Jazz Albums^[3]	1

Awards

2006 - 49th Annual GRAMMY Awards^[2]

Winner	Title	Category
George Benson	"Mornin'"	Best Pop Instrumental Performance
Al Jarreau, George Benson, Jill Scott	"God Bless the Child"	Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance

References

^ Collar, Matt. George Benson and Al Jarreau: Givin' It Up > Review at Allmusic. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
^ ^a ^b "Past Winners Search". GRAMMY.com. http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=&title=&year=2006&genre=All. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Givin' It Up - George Benson & Al Jarreau". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/album/george-benson-al-jarreau/givin-it-up/798058. Retrieved October 13, 2011.

George Benson

Discography

Studio albums	The New Boss Guitar of George Benson · It's Uptown · The George Benson Cookbook · Giblet Gravy · Shape of Things to Come · Goodies · Tell It Like It Is · The Other Side of Abbey Road · Beyond the Blue Horizon · White Rabbit · Body Talk · Bad Benson · Good King Bad · Benson & Farrell · Breezin' · In Flight · Livin' Inside Your Love · Give Me the Night · In Your Eyes · Pacific Fire · I Got a Woman and Some Blues · 20/20 · While the City Sleeps... · Collaboration · Twice the Love · Tenderly · Big Boss Band · Love Remembers · That's Right · Standing Together · Absolute Benson · Irreplaceable · Givin' It Up · Songs and Stories · Guitar Man

Live albums	In Concert-Carnegie Hall · Weekend in L.A. · Space · Round Midnight · Best of George Benson Live · Live From Montreux

Compilations	Benson Burner · Blue Benson · Mr.Mellow George Benson Greatest Hits · The George Benson Collection · Exclusive Benson · Grand New World - Greatest Love Songs · Best of George Benson in the CTI/Kudu Years

Video albums	Absolutely Live · Live at Montreux 1986 · The Art of Jazz Guitar

Book:George Benson