Breezin'

Breezin' marked the beginning of Benson's most successful period commercially, topping the Billboard Pop, Jazz and R&B album charts. It spun off two hit singles, the title song (which has become a fusion jazz standard) and "This Masquerade", which was a top ten pop and R&B hit. The album has since been certified as 3× Multi-Platinum by the RIAA. The album garnered multiple nominations and awards at the 19th Annual Grammy Awards. The album won the awards Best Pop Instrumental Performance for Benson and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical for Al Schmitt and was nominated as Album of the Year for Tommy LiPuma and Benson. "This Masquerade" received the award Record of the Year for LiPuma and Benson, while it was nominated as Song of the Year for Leon Russell and as Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male for Benson. == Critical reception ==

In a contemporaneous review for The Village Voice, music critic Robert Christgau gave the album a "C" and dismissed most of its music as "mush". In a retrospective review, Allmusic's Richard S. Ginell gave it three-and-a-half out of five stars and said that, although Benson's guitar is "as assured and fluid as ever", Breezin is "really not so much a breakthrough as it is a transition album; the guitar is still the core of his identity". A more recent review (2023), on the Best of Jazz website, was more generous. It stated "Breezin’ is one of the best albums for Benson. This 70’s masterpiece gave [him] true popularity." == Track listing ==

• George Benson – guitar, vocals • Jorge Dalto – acoustic piano, clavinet, acoustic piano solo (2) • Ronnie Foster – electric piano, Minimoog, Minimoog solo (3), electric piano solo (5) • Phil Upchurch – rhythm guitar, bass guitar (1, 3) • Stanley Banks – bass guitar (2, 46) • Harvey Mason – drums • Ralph MacDonald – percussion • Claus Ogerman – arrangements and conductor ==Production==

• Tommy LiPuma – producer • Noel Newbolt – associate producer • Al Schmitt – recording, mixing • Don Henderson – assistant engineer • Doug Sax – mastering at the Mastering Lab (Hollywood, California). • Ed Thrasher – art direction • Robert Lockhart – art direction • Peter Palombi – design • Mario Casilli – photography ==Charts==

Weekly charts Year-end charts ==Certifications and sales==