“We are so impressed with your excellent double C.D we have immediately added several tracks to our playlist – your style of play fits our format like a glove. –Terence Gaynon, Network Program Director Australian Smooth Jazz Network.
Featured Artist “Jazz Across The World Program”
– Sydney Fm-90.5
“My favourite music is from musicians who know how to use their technique with the right balance of flash and restraint. Aaron Benson and his C.D “After the Rush is a shining example of this”. Drew Abelard.
“Chillout music at its best” Tony Pappas – Echo Fm.
“l’m talking one very cool C.D here! Treading firmly in the Smooth Groove/Nu Jazz idiom with just enough spice to crossover into Urban territory. The track Havana Moonlight is a knockout top down, breeze thru the hair, summer is here Vibe!! – Clevland Sayle, KHWRCruisetime 96.3
“Sensational groovin’ guitar” – Lawrence Wakefield, All about Jazz.
“The sound of Benson’s guitar is one of elegant excitement”-Musicbreak
Magazine.
“Aaron Benson will no doubt be splendidly cruising down his own lane in the crowded Freeway of guitar and After the Rush is his ticket to ride” – Mike Stead,
Guitarin’
“An exceptionally melodic guitarist with a clear and articulate guitar tone that also happens to ooze soul” – Australian Music Online.
“After the Rush has the kind of ambience that can be listened to for it’s musical worth or enjoyed for the sensual moods it creates”- Alison Grayson, NowTimes.
“It’s rare that someone comes along and totally blows me away. Aaron Benson’s C.D After the Rush breaks the spell. Beautiful vibrant sounding guitar, songs that are tuneful, the grooves are right on the money, the solos compliment his melodies perfectly and very importantly for me, the C.D hasn’t fallen victim to over-production. Nice and Classy effort –Jay T, Smooth Jazz Forum.
AARON BENSON – After the Rush
If ever there was an imaginative and cool wave of instrumental guitar music sweeping through your city it would have to be the beautifully crafted two-CD set After the Rush by Aaron Benson.
Hailing from Australia, Benson’s musical style is polished and captivating. As humble as the man is about the obvious technical mastery of his instrument, the fluid notes sliding from the fretboard on his new CD virtually caress the ears of the listener.
“It’s really a composite of my favourite styles of music,” reflects Benson. “Slinky melodic R’n’B grooves, Jazz, Soul, Latin with some bluesy inflections to add a unique feel to the songs. “
While attuned to avoiding effects or gimmicks, the guitar lines are natural, clear and pristine. A real credit to the man for it is rare to hear an instrument without all the accruements and studio wizardry that so many musicians rely on to achieve a sound nowadays. This approach has certainly paid off for the C.D glows with as much fire as anything you’re likely to hear while retaining a spark that lends itself to many hours of repeated listening.
Benson has included a second bonus disc with this release. I asked him about the motivation behind it,
“The bonus solo guitar disc is something people have been asking me to do for years and really is more straight ahead guitar that demonstrates another (more traditional) side of my playing and also it’s an added incentive for people to get some Bonus material without extra cost”
According to Benson the C.D’s title After the Rush sums up his latest set of recordings perfectly.
“There’s a lot of evidence to support the theory that bombastic music and sounds contribute negatively to people’s stress levels. While we don’t want to put anyone to sleep.. it’s cool to put on a disc that creates an ambience when we’re trying to wind down after work or trying to create some atmosphere at a get-together while having a contemporary sound with some musical substance behind it,” he says.
Prolific songwriting and an ear for melody are his obvious strong points, and the regular radio airplay of a number of his tracks such as Havana Moonlight is no surprise. However Benson is mindful of including some popular standards in his repertoire. “Barry White’s Practice What You Preach, which is a song l thought would make a great guitar piece the first time l heard it sits right in with my originals. The rest of the covers are on the bonus disc and it was fun to pick some favourite songs and work them into solo guitar arrangements for those moments when you really just want to sit right back” says Benson.
The sounds on After the Rush are smooth and lively. Aaron Benson’s musical integrity is way up there with the best of them. His love affair with the sound of Jazz-Soul guitar in a contemporary setting brings forth sounds which pour out of the stereo speakers like the sonic equivalent of a cool breeze on a hot summer’s day.
>Review by Paul Norris. (N Media Productions)
Check back Soon – More reviews on their way……
