George Benson - Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole [Silver]

George Benson salutes his first musical hero on Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole, the 2013 album now spinning on silver vinyl.

Benson grew up with Cole's records and has said he played that music from childhood, so this project carries real affection. Produced by John Burk with pianist and arranger Randy Waldman, it sets Benson's warm, honeyed voice and fluid guitar against lush orchestral settings, several built on Nelson Riddle's original arrangements, with the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra filling out the sound.

Guest turns add sparkle without stealing focus. Wynton Marsalis brings a burnished trumpet to "Unforgettable", Idina Menzel joins for a tender "When I Fall In Love", and Till Brönner's horn drifts through "Smile". Elsewhere, "Route 66" lets Benson swing loose and remind everyone of his jazz roots.

It never feels like an impersonation. Benson respects the melodies Cole made famous while bringing his own phrasing and those trademark guitar fills, so the songs feel lived-in rather than preserved under glass. Judith Hill also steps up for a duet, adding a younger voice to the mix.

Pressed on silver vinyl, it makes an elegant bridge between two generations of great entertainers, and a warm choice for an evening with the lights turned low.