Jazz legend Benson returns to China

Ten-time Grammy award winner, and legendary "guitar man" George Benson will give a concert in Shanghai. Photo provided to China Daily

Video: George Benson Inspiration Trailer

This will be the second time the 70-year-old American guitarist, pop, jazz and R&B singer, will perform in China.

"My first performance in China took place right after the Olympic Games in Beijing," Benson told China Daily in a telephone interview.

Benson and veteran jazz singer Al Jarreau gave two concerts promoting their 2006 hit album Givin' It Up in Beijing and Shanghai in 2008. Chinese jazz musician Liu Yuan commented that Benson had "infinite talents", and "although jazz has small groups of fans in China, fine music can always find supporters".

Benson was impressed with the grandeur of big arenas built for the Beijing Olympics and saw the country as he "never could have imagined China".

He was glad to find he had fans in China, who "knew so much about me and my music", and he also learned some words of Chinese. Supposedly this time when he communicates with audiences in simple Chinese, he will know the exact meaning of the words.

His latest impression about China's music is from the martial art movie The Grandmaster. He said the music was fantastic and beautifully done, and was particularly impressed with the playing of erhu, the Chinese string instrument, "a different version of the violin".

He was amazed at the depth of the artistry of China, and said he would love to take a vacation and stay for a few weeks, in order to learn more about the country.

Benson was bemused when he was told that he was called a living fossil by a Chinese newspaper. "I take music very seriously. It's important to give music all it deserves," he said.

IF YOU GO

George Benson: Inspiration Tour

8 pm, Sept 3

The Mixing Room and Muse, in the Mercedes-Benz Arena Complex, 1200 Expo Avenue, Pudong New Area, Shanghai.

021-5150-9199.

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