Givin' It Up
Givin' It Up is a first-time recording/collaboration between vocalist Al Jarreau and guitarist George Benson. It contains songs previously recorded by both artists and original music. Other vocalists and musicians featured are Jill Scott, Patti Austin, Herbie Hancock, Stanley Clarke, Abe Laboriel, Chris Botti, Marcus Miller, and Paul McCartney. This project also includes standards by Billie Holiday and Sam Cooke, pop songs by Seals and Crofts and Daryl Hall along with the jazz-swing "Four" by Miles Davis, and "Ordinary People" by John Legend.
It was released by Concord Records in September 2006.
In 2007, Benson was awarded his 9th and Jarreau was awarded his 6th Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance on "God Bless The Child'" with Jill Scott. Benson also won his 10th Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Performance on "Mornin'", while "Breezin'" received a nomination for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.
Track listing
Personnel
- George Benson – guitar, lead vocals, arrangements, backing vocals
- Al Jarreau – lead vocals, vocal percussion, backing vocals, arrangements
- Ray Fuller – guitar
- Dean Parks – guitar, rhythm guitar
- Freddie Fox – guitar
- Michael O'Neill – rhythm guitar
- Michael Thompson – guitar
- Larry Williams – keyboards, arrangements, acoustic piano
- Michael Broening – keyboards, programming, arrangements, organ
- Herbie Hancock – acoustic piano
- Patrice Rushen – keyboards, Fender Rhodes, arrangements, acoustic piano
- Rex Rideout – acoustic piano, arrangements
- Barry Eastmond – keyboards, arrangements
- Freddie Ravel – Fender Rhodes, clavinet, organ, synthesizer, Moog bass, drums, percussion programming, arrangements, BGV arrangements
- Joe Turano – Wurlitzer, Hammond B3 organ, arrangements
- Randy Waldman – acoustic piano, arrangements
- Abraham Laboriel – electric bass
- Mel Brown – bass guitar
- Marcus Miller – bass guitar, arrangements
- Stanley Clarke – bass guitar
- Vinnie Colaiuta – drums
- Michael White – drums
- Gregg Field – drums
- Ricky Lawson – drums
- Paulinho Da Costa – percussion
- Bashiri Johnson – percussion
- Marion Meadows – saxophone
- Chris Botti – trumpet
- John Burk – arrangements
- Jill Scott – lead vocals
- Patti Austin – lead and backing vocals, BGV arrangements
- Maxi Anderson – backing vocals
- Valerie Pinkston – backing vocals
- Sharon Perry – backing vocals
- Darlene Perry – backing vocals
- Lorraine Perry – backing vocals
- Sandra Simmons Williams – backing vocals
- De'Ante Duckett – backing vocals
- Alethea Mills - backing vocals
- Chavonne Morris – backing vocals
- Fred Martin – BGV arrangements
- Paul McCartney – lead vocals
Production
- Producers – John Burk ; Michael Broening ; Patti Austin ; Freddie Ravel.
- Co-Producers – Marcus Miller ; Larry Williams ; Chris Dunn.
- Additional Production on Track 8 – Barry Eastmond and Gregg Field
- Executive Producers – Glen Barros, Kevin Lee and Noel Lee.
- Recording Engineers – Michael Broening, Myron Chandler, Jeff Harris, Don Murray, Charlie Paakkari, Seth Presant and Bill Smith.
- Additional Engineering – Kevin Becka, Barry Eastmond, Eric Ferguson, Carlos Martinez, Dennis Moody and John Wroble.
- Assistant Engineers – Phillip Broussard, Keith Gretlein, Casey Lewis and Paul Smith.
- Recorded at Henson Recording Studios, NRG Studios and Capitol Studios ; G Studio Digital ; LAFX Studios, The Pass, Willyworld and Ravelation Studios ; White Lightning Studios ; Porcupine Studios ; The "B" Hive ; East Bay Studios.
- Pro Tools and Editing – Seth Presant, Bill Smith and German Villacorta.
- Additional Pro Tools Engineer – Alex Pavlides
- Mixed by Al Schmitt at Capitol Studios, assisted by Steve Genewick.
- Mastered by Doug Sax and Sangwook Nam at The Mastering Lab.
- A&R – Chris Dunn
- A&R Administration – Mary Hogan
- Production Consultant – Gerald McCauley
- Art Direction – Abbey Anna and Andrew Pham
- Design – Andrew Pham
- Photography – Randee St. Nicholas
Charts
Awards
2006 - 49th Annual GRAMMY Awards| 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 |