George Benson: Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole

In case there was any doubt of his enormous debt to Nat King Cole, George Benson opens this swinging tribute with a little gem from the archives: his eight-year-old self singing Mona Lisa. Indeed, the only shame about this lavishly produced homage is that there's too much deference shown. Rather than revealing how NKC shaped his own sound, Benson self-consciously mimics the great singer's tone, frequently even using Cole's original arrangements for the likes of Unforgettable and When I Fall in Love rather than putting his own stamp on them. The real Benson comes to the fore on the guitar solos, and he remains one of the great stylists of American music. Overall, though, NKC fans will get more out of Inspiration than Benson devotees. georgebenson.com