Big Boss Band

Big Boss Band is the 1990 studio album of George Benson on Warner Bros. featuring the Count Basie Orchestra. This is Benson's second consecutive album which returns to his jazz roots after his successful pop career in the 1980s, and also his debut as sole producer of an album. The genre is mainly big band swing with some Michel Legrand and R&B thrown in.

Concept
In his liner notes, Benson writes that in 1983 he made a promise to Count Basie "to do his (Basie's) music justice" on an album such as Big Boss Band. He continues: "The spirit of the Basie Legacy permeated these sessions as I approached each one (song) in the way I believed the Count would have wanted." He thanks to Frank Foster III for his contribution and notes that he "was Basie's only choice" to arrange this album.

Reception
The album was criticized by jazz writers for not being jazzy enough, for the vocal performance and for not being able to grab the opportunity of making a jazz classic.

Awards
Frank Foster received Grammy Award for his arrangement of George Benson’s composition “Basie’s Bag” (Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band, 1990).

Personnel
Musicians: Count Basie Orchestra (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10):
 * George Benson - guitar, vocals (1, 3-9)
 * Clarence Banks - trombone
 * Carl "Ace" Carter - piano
 * George Cohn - trumpet
 * Cleveland Eaton - bass
 * Frank Foster III - arrangements (1-5, 8, 9, 10), tenor saxophone, tenor sax solo (2)
 * David Glasser - alto saxophone, alto sax solo (2)
 * Kenneth Hing - tenor saxophone
 * William Hughes - bass trombone
 * Duffy Jackson - drums
 * Charlton Johnson - guitar
 * Doug Miller - tenor saxophone
 * Bob Ojeda - trumpet, backup trumpet solo (2), arrangements (6)
 * Byron Stripling - trumpet, backup trumpet solo (4)
 * Danny Turner - alto saxophone
 * Melvin Wanzo - trombone
 * Johnny Williams - baritone saxophone
 * Mike Williams - trumpet
 * Tim Williams - trombone

Additional Musicians:
 * Carmen Bradford - vocals (3)
 * Terry Burrus - keyboards (5)
 * Ron Carter - bass (3)
 * Barry J. Eastmond - piano, keyboards (3)
 * Bashiri Johnson - percussion (5)
 * Ralph MacDonald - percussion (5)
 * Richard Tee - keyboard bass (5)
 * David Witham - keyboards (5)

New York Horns (5):
 * Randy Brecker - trumpet
 * Jon Faddis - trumpet
 * Larry Farrell - trombone
 * Paul Faulise - trombone
 * Earl Gardner - trumpet
 * Keith O'Quinn - trombone
 * James Pugh - trombone
 * Lewis Soloff - trumpet

Robert Farnon Orchestra (7): Technical:
 * Robert Farnon - arrangements
 * uncredited UK musicians
 * Greg Calbi - mastering
 * Emile Charlap - musical contractor
 * Peter Darmi - recording
 * Russ Defilippis - production assistant for Broadway Productions
 * Mary Ann Dibs - art direction
 * Robert Hakalski - photography
 * Ken Fritz Management, L.A. - direction
 * Robin Lynch - grooming
 * Ed Rak - mixing
 * Dave Russell - additional recording
 * Elliot Scheiner - recording
 * Al Schmitt - recording, mixing
 * Lucrecia Snead - project administrator
 * Michon C. Stanco - album package coordinator
 * Lorna Stovall - design
 * Jeff Toone - additional recording
 * Alexander White - styling
 * Aaron Woodward - musical contractor