Affirmation - Jose Feliciano Original 1975 (also by Nujabes Counting Stars cover by George Benson)

Affirmation Instrumental by Jose Feliciano recorded in his 1975 RCA album "Just Wann Rock'n'Roll" NEVER released in CD (in many CD exist another his version recorded in 1996 with his actual tour band),
The song is also famous in the cover by George Benson in his hit album "Breezin" from 1976 and recently sampled by DJ Nujabes in Counting Stars part of the Samurai Champloo line up as "Shino's Theme"
Video isn't of the.... Vinyl Version!!

here the story "How George Benson covered Affirmation by Jose Feliciano" by his producer LiPuma

A review by '70s for Breezin LP

Though Side One of Breezin' had the hits, Side Two was a creamy, seamless masterpiece unto itself. It unfolded with "Affirmation," a song composed by Jose Feliciano, the international superstar singer/guitarist/composer who had recorded it on his album, Just Wanna Rock 'N' Roll (RCA), from the fall of '75. "Affirmation" was the sole instrumental on that Feliciano LP, providing the blind Puerto Rican wunderkind a golden opportunity to showcase his skills on acoustic Spanish guitar, electric rhythm guitar (with a wah-wah effect), electric bass, congas and as a string arranger! LiPuma was enchanted with the melody of Feliciano's relatively brief (3:33) recording. When material was being prepared for Breezin', he presented it to Benson, who liked it immediately. The band worked up an arrangement that loosened and elongated the vibe of the original. Like Feliciano's version, George begins "Affirmation" alone, caressing an introduction of choice notes and a smooth rendering of its signature run down the frets. But when the rhythm section eases in, led by MacDonald's congas, the groove is more relaxed and funky in a way that is quite different from Feliciano's more insistent arrangement, which throbbed with forthright Latin pride. Where Feliciano had his rhythm section drop out for the soaring bridge, Benson's band rides it like the wind, drummer Mason liberating the rhythm by opening up on his cymbals. Benson tickles the strings with a tasty solo that leads into the killer breakdown section, with Upchurch dipping into his effects bag. And then, in what has to be one of the all-time classiest hand-offs in music, Benson makes way for Dalto's wistful electric piano (complete with soulful little comps) before Benson takes it home, getting in a few final signature licks. Benson's "Affirmation" is seven minutes of masterful musical heaven.
http://www.fantasticfeliciano.too.it/

Category:

Music

Tags:

• jose
• feliciano
• george
• benson
• affirmation
• jazz
• funky
• instrumental
• guitar
• virtuoso
• 70s
• pop
• Nujabes
• Mark
• Knopfler
• hip-hop
• Hyde
• Out
• Productions
• second
• collection
• modal
• soul
• metaphorical
• music
• samurai
• champloo
• shinos
• theme
• pat
• metheny

[DocHallux]

rip nujabes. he sampled music from the most awesome songs. the art of digging - jun seba was a master.

[comradery93]

R.I.P Jun Seba

[dal4018]

@tymtrppr3 Agreed this guy needs a movie made about his lifestory

[tymtrppr3]

Whats ridiculous is, I knew who Jose Feliciano was before I heard this song. I've heard of George Benson before I had heard this song. Also Nujabes. All of which are amazing artist its crazy how connected they are through music even though they are 3 completely different styles of music. Its like paying 8 degress of separation with Kevin Bacon but with music.

[frozenray0079]

Without Feliciano, there would be no George Benson version, there would be no Nujabes version...and I would not have heard the Nujabes version on Samurai Champloo and wondered why it wasn't on the anime's OST and eventually led me on youtube to George Benson's material, and subsequently, Jose Feliciano. Mindf*ck.

[Fierag]

anyone else notice the picking and chords doesn't match up??



[veeseee128]

blind man can fly

[onasugol]

Man, this is sooo smooth, so good. Thank you, Jose Feliciano, for this masterpiece. Thank you, thank you so much.

[edoplastic]

It was a chennel called Telecupole, active in the north-western Italy

[Top100Guitarist]

@edoplastic HI, this video is from a Jose Feliciano Concert in Toronto-Canada in 1978,

Do You you know what was the italian TV Channel who aired this video then You see on TV?

I'm very interested who aired Jose in Italy... thanx

[pexist88]

I know Nujabes and George Benson were praised for doing this remake but you have to give the real respect credit to Jose Feliciano. That's the master.....

[edoplastic]

Anyone knows the name of this show?

I've seen this today on a local Italian TV, after Jose gig there was another band I'm trying to find.

There was a bandleader playing flute, a drummer, a piano player, a kbd player, bass, drums, a horn section, all in the same location shown in this video.

Really great instrumental music but there was no titles...