AT 75, few could argue that George Benson is a legend of epic proportions.

A powerhouse of song-writing talent and a jazz virtuoso at heart, this man oozed his own unique brand of refined musical magnificence that combined complex guitar wizardry and velvety vocal serenades that perfectly contrasted jazz, soul, disco, rhythm and blues and catchy 80s pop flavours.

A 10-time Grammy award-winning artist, Benson’s career spans over five decades; boasting 36 albums, 50 single releases and over 10 million records sold worldwide. Bournemouth was in for a real treat and the anticipation of the crowd before he came on stage was pretty intoxicating.

The night didn’t disappoint. Performing to a full house, his six-piece band did a sterling job. He opened with Love x Love, peppering his set with his unforgettable collection of soulful hits and jazz masterpieces including In Your Eyes, Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You and Feel Like Making Love.

Benson’s rich, melodic voice was spellbinding. Everybody absolutely loved him. His conviction and gravitas ever present during his show.

Most of the crowd got to their feet at the opening few bars of Turn My Love Around which was great to see. And there was plenty of crowd clapping as we were all treated to a rare scat masterclass and the occasional hip grind which sent the ladies in the audience somewhat ecstatic!

During On Broadway, he played as one with his guitar and introduced the other members of his band to huge avail. All top of their game. As each member of his band had their moment in the spotlight, the crowd showed their appreciation with respect and perfectly timed applause in true jazz fashion. His pianist, Tom Hall, was particularly stand out, jumping up from his seat as he played triumphantly.

Benson also shared a few lovely stories in between tracks, paying homage to musicians that had inspired him. I loved these moments. He had the entire auditorium gripped.

Never Give Up On A Good Thing sent the crowd into a bit of a frenzy, as everybody got to their feet and boogied their hearts out. As I looked around me, there was a sea of smiles and happy faces. It was a cracking atmosphere as Let Me Love You One More Time brought the house down.

My personal favourite, his 1980 hit, Give Me The Night that was produced by Quincy Jones, pretty much took the roof off. Everybody was dancing. You could really feel the love affair he has with his guitar. I have never experienced such adoration and admiration for an artist in Bournemouth before. It was really something.

He finished his set with his latest release, Humility, where he features on guitar alongside the Gorillaz on their forthcoming album, The Now Now, available on 29th June. Even though he is in his twilight years, Benson continues his pursuit of musical creativity, collaborating with the world’s most innovative virtual band. Humility has had over 19 million views online and has propelled George Benson back to the mainstream charts after an astonishing 33 years away.

There can be no doubt that Benson has conquered the technique of remaining current whilst at the same time entertaining millions with his feel-good repertoire of floor-filling classics and delectable ballads.

George Benson is one of the last of the Greats and Bournemouth was incredibly lucky to have him for one night only. He is a true jazz aficionado and a titan of soul. Let’s hope he continues to share his music with us mere mortals for many more years to come.

By Ben Ricci