This week we present you with the meeting of two musical icons: Our own Joe Bonamassa chatting with Grammy Award-winning musician and jazz guitarist George Benson at the Comerica Theatre in sunny Phoenix, Arizona. Right out of the gate Joe makes reference to the fact that he is a “blues guy” and that he feels “jazz is what the real musicians played”. Being a blues musician myself, I share Joe’s sentiment here, but George is quick to point out that the two styles are very much intertwined when you look back in history and observe, for example, how New Orleans jazz had its roots in the blues that emerged from that part of the country in the early 1900’s.

These two styles of music are indeed art forms that were birthed in America, and because of that this country continues its ongoing fascination with both, thanks in part to men like Joe and George. The admiration that these two clearly have for each other, both personally and professionally, and the sheer enjoyment one gets from both watching two living legends converse and listening to them share their insights on their respective styles, gives us fans comfort knowing the future and evolution of the music we love is in the hands of men like this.