GROVER WASHINGTON JR

GROVER LIVE – VOL. 2

Lightyear Entertainment

Grover Washington, tenor, soprano, alto & baritone saxophones; Richie Morales, drums; Adam Holzman, piano; Donald Robinson, keyboards; Gerald Veasley, electric bass; Richard Lee Steacker, guitars; Pablo Batista, conga/percussion.

This new album captures the essence of Grover Washington Jr.’s brilliance.  The legendary saxophone master demonstrates, during these live performances, why he is considered a pioneer in jazz and crossover commercial jazz, adding funk and groove to his traditional jazz mix.

It was quite exciting to hear Grover Washington Jr. play baritone saxophone on “Nature Boy.” This album of new music follows the ‘Live’ recording release he made in Peekskill, New York twenty-seven years ago in June of 1997.  That album was released as a Grover Live Vol. 1 album, followed by a double vinyl version in 2020 that was recorded in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1998. This group of musicians on Volume 2., remain close to his original band on these former releases.

They open with “East River Drive” plush with the percussion of Pablo Batista and the driving drums of Richie Morales.  This is travel music that sounds like what you would be playing as your car cruises down the highway.  Grover Washington Jr. always knew how to put funk and groove into his arrangements.  That’s what endeared him to his fans.  If ever there was a founder of smooth jazz music, I would think it was Grover Washington Jr.  He was one of the first to merge Rhythm and Blues grooves with Straight-ahead jazz and make it popular.

Growing up in Buffalo, New York, Washington said he would sneak into clubs to watch musicians like Jack McDuff, Harold Vick and Charles Lloyd play. His professional life began at age twelve, playing his horn in what they used to call ‘gut-bucket’ clubs. He left his hometown to join a group called the Four Clefs. Then he was drafted into the Army and discovered drummer Billy Cobham was in the Army band.  Cobham introduced young Grover to several prominent New York City musicians. Once discharged from the armed services, he began to make a name for himself, playing with organist Charles Earland’s band and recording with John Hammond. In 1971, he had a huge crossover hit record interpreting the Marvin Gaye tune, “Inner City Blues.”

Washington closed his live show on this recent release with his big hit record, “Mister Magic.”  He was also famous for his rendition of the Bill Wither’s tune, “Just the two of Us.”  Grover Washington’s album “Winelight” was certified gold in 1981.  It has sold over two million copies.  We lost this great talent all too soon at the age of 56, on December 17, 1999. This newly released album keeps the man and his music alive and well. This album will be available to the public on September 13, 2024.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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