Grover Washington Jr.
One of the most popular saxophonists of all time, Grover Washington, Jr. was long the pacesetter in his field. His roots were in R&B and soul-jazz organ combos, but he also fared very well on the infrequent occasions when he played straight-ahead jazz. A highly influential player, Washington pushed himself with the spontaneity and risk-taking of a masterful jazz musician.
Grover Washington, Jr.'s, father also played saxophone and was his first influence. The younger son started playing music when he was ten, and within two years was working in clubs. He picked up experience touring with the Four Clefs from 1959-1963 and freelancing during the next two years, before spending a couple years in the Army. He moved to Philadelphia in 1967, becoming closely identified with the city from then on, and worked with several organists, including Charles Earland and Johnny Hammond Smith, recording as a sideman for the Prestige label. His biggest break occurred in 1971, when Hank Crawford could not make it to a recording date for Creed Tasylor's Kudu label; Washington was picked as his replacement, and the result was Inner City Blues, a big seller. From then on he became a major name, particularly after recording 1975's Mister Magic and Feels So Good, and later 1980's Winelight; the latter included the Bill Withers hit "Just the Two of Us."
Although some of his recordings since then found him coasting a bit, Washington usually stretched himself in concert. He developed his own personal voices on soprano, tenor, alto, and even his infrequently-used baritone. Grover Washington Jr. recorded as a leader for Kudu, Motown, Elektra, and Columbia and made notable guest appearances on dozens of records ranging from pop to straightforward jazz. He died of a sudden heart attack on December 17, 1999 while taping an appearance on CBS television's The Saturday Early Show; Washington was 56. The posthumous Aria was issued early the following year.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
Artisti simili
-
-
-
Feels So Good (Album Version)
Fusion & Jazz rock - Pubblicato da Kudu Records il 1 gen 1975
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Winelight
Fusion & Jazz rock - Pubblicato da Rhino - Elektra il 26 mar 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Secret Place
Fusion & Jazz rock - Pubblicato da Kudu Records il 1 gen 1976
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Come Morning (LP Version)
Jazz - Pubblicato da Elektra Asylum il 20 nov 1980
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live At The Bijou (Live At The Bijou/1977)
Fusion & Jazz rock - Pubblicato da Kudu Records il 1 gen 1977
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Togethering
Kenny Burrell, Grover Washington Jr.
Jazz - Pubblicato da Blue Note Records il 1 gen 1984
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
The Best of Grover Washington Jr.- Anthology Series
R&B - Pubblicato da Motown il 1 gen 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Anthology (LP Version)
Jazz - Pubblicato da Rhino - Elektra il 1 gen 1985
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
The Essential Grover Washington,Jr.The Columbia Years
Jazz - Pubblicato da Columbia - Legacy il 3 set 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Best Is Yet To Come
Jazz - Pubblicato da Elektra Records il 19 nov 1982
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
All The King's Horses
Fusion & Jazz rock - Pubblicato da Kudu Records il 1 gen 1972
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mister Magic
Fusion & Jazz rock - Pubblicato da Kudu Records il 1 nov 1974
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Soul Box
Fusion & Jazz rock - Pubblicato da Kudu Records il 1 mar 1973
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo