“Originally recorded by singer-songwriter Leon Russell, ‘This Masquerade’ comes from George Benson’s 1976 album Breezin’, which was a major critical and commercial success for the guitarist,” (JazzIz). “Benson’s first ever single … (featured his) intricate guitar work” combined with his “now-famous overlaid vocals.”
Benson “transformed the song into a masterpiece of crossover jazz-pop. Benson, at the time, had never even heard of the song—or Leon Russell,” (TheChurchStudio.com). “He later revealed that producer and manager Tommy LiPuma pushed him to record it. But once he did, Benson called it ‘one of the finest tunes of our time, with a beautiful melody and a great story.’ He later discovered that the song’s harmonic structure was loosely based on the jazz standard ‘Angel Eyes,‘ which, he said, is why ‘so many jazz musicians dig playing it … Leon did us all a great favor when he wrote it.’
That recording made music history. ‘This Masquerade’ became the first song ever to simultaneously top the Jazz, Pop, and Rhythm & Blues charts, a groundbreaking achievement that reflected its universal appeal. The track went on to win the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1977, solidifying the song as an American classic.”
After a 30-second intro, the tune is built primarily in F minor for the first one-third of the form. The tune shifts to a less melancholic sound (though the lyrics refuse to follow suit) when it switches to Db major at 1:14, then C major at 1:36. For the final third, there’s a return to a doleful F minor.
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