I have many old school Soul, Funk, Contemporary Jazz, Jazz-Fusion, Latin, African, Reggae and other related CDs for sale this week. Please take a look. All from my personal collection.
The
discs I have for sale are not new. However the majority are in very good condition and come from a smoke
& pet-free home.
Please make payment within 3 days of purchase.
Loving homage to an
innovator and perhaps most lyrical, urbane sax player/composer ever - Grover
Washington. All-star cast includes Dave Koz, Joe Sample, Regina Belle, Michael
Brecker, Richard Elliot, Chaka Khan, Herbie Mann, Ronnie Laws, Peter White,
George Duke, Jay Beckenstein and more. Produced by the Grammy-nominated
Producer/performer Jason Miles.
By AAJ Staff
July 1, 2001
Grover
Washington, Jr. was one of those jazz musicians, like George Benson or Herbie
Mann, whose clarity of conception and uniqueness of sound crossed over into the
realm of pop music for wider acclaim and, of course, for greater financial
reward than life as a jazz musician would have provided. Beyond Washington’s
wide appeal, he still was admired by his jazz peers, not only for his
generosity and community spirit in his hometown of Philadelphia, but also for
his considerable chops that became apparent whenever he showed up as a guest on
another jazz musician’s CD. As one of those musicians who represents a kind of
threshold into jazz—that is, one whose popularity delights general listeners
and who leads them to investigate jazz more deeply—he enlarged the audience for
the music, which ultimately represents one of his more important
accomplishments.
Not only jazz enthusiasts who followed Washington’s career, but also the
listening radio public, recognize “Winelight,” when they hear it, as one of the
most popular tunes from contemporary jazz. And “Mr. Magic.” And “In The Name Of
Love.” And “Just The Two Of Us.” Passing in December, 1999, Washington, thus,
left a legacy of tunes associated with his sounds and his personality.
A group of musicians, similar in interests and musical sensibilities, decided
to pay tribute to Grover Washington, Jr. in the most effective way they
could—through music. The result, To Grover, With Love, presents
the best-known of Washington’s popular tunes in re-creations close to the their
original conception. As on his tributes to Ivan Lins and Weather Report, Miles
is a major presence on To Grover, With Love. Not only did he
produce and arrange most of the tunes, but also his plays keyboard on many of
them as well.
“Winelight,” performed by Gerald Albright, gives evidence of the vast influence
of Washington, Albright re-creating the tune with the same bending of notes and
urgent tone that can’t be ignored. Russ Freeman’s work on “East River Dance”
assumes a natural flow with shimmering chords that brings out the warmth of
the tune, while Miles’ keyboard work provides the accents behind Freeman.
One of the surprises of the album is the recruitment of Herbie Mann on “Mr.
Magic,” as he makes one of his increasingly rare recording appearances after
his move to New Mexico. Rather than backing up Mann with the live percussion of
his Live At The Village Gate days, all of the backup is electronic, with Rhodes
piano, Moog programming, rhythm loops and drum programming creating the
shuffle. Indeed, Mark Whitfield’s work on “Summer Chill” is accompanied by
Miles only, his work consisting of the playing of all of the programmed
instruments. Michael and Randy Brecker create a moody, unhurried portrait on
“Loran’s Dance,” to which Joe Sample and Joey DeFrancesco contribute. Regina
Belle substitutes for Bill Withers on “Just The Two Of Us,” which had won the
1980 Grammy Award for Best R&B Song, while Steve Cole provides the harmonic
commentary on tenor sax and George Duke fills in the changes on Rhodes piano.
True to the generous spirit of Grover Washington, Jr., To Grover, With
Love, prints in the liner notes the mission statement for the Grover
Washington, Jr. Protect The Dream Foundation, as well as information for
contributing to it (800-732-0999). The program provides disadvantaged youths
with musical materials and instruments so that the music may be furthered and
so that untapped talent may be nurtured. Thus, Washington’s legacy involves
more than his unforgettable music; it involves his concrete initiatives to make
the world a better place.
Tracklisting:
Winelight, East River Dance, Inner City Blues, Mr.
Magic, In The Name Of Love, Black Frost, Just The Two Of Us, Summer Chill, Take
Me There, Let It Flow, Come Morning, Brighton By The Sea, Love Me Still, Loran's Dance.
Disc is in excellent condition.