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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, All Music Guide
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01. Inner City Blues 02. Georgia On My Mind 03. Mercy Mercy Me |
04. Ain't No Sunshine 05. Until It's Time For You To Go 06. I Loves You, Porgy |
01. No Tears (in the end) 02. All The King's Horses 03. Where Is The Love? 04. Body And Soul |
05. Lean On Me 06. Lover Man 07. Love Song 1700 |
01. Aubrey 02. Masterpiece 03. Trouble Man |
01. You Are The Sunshine Of My Life 02. Don't Explain 03. Easy Living 04. Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do |
01. Earth Tones 02. Passion Flower 03. Mister Magic 04. Black Frost |
01. The Sea Lion 02. Moonstreams 03. Knucklehead 04. It Feels So Good 05. Hydra |
01. Secret Place 02. Dolphin Dance 03. Not Yet 04. Love Makes It Better |
01. On The Cusp 02. You Make Me Dance 03. Lock It In The Pocket 04. Days Of Our Lives/Mr. Magic |
05. Summer Song 06. Juffure 07. Sausalito 08. Funkfoot |
01. Do Dat 02. Step N' Thru 03. Reed Seed (trio tune) 04. Maracas Beach |
05. Santa 06. Just The Way You Are 07. Loran's Dance |
01. Easy Loving You 02. Bright Moments 03. Snake Eyes |
04. I Can't Help It 05. Love 06. Open Your Mind (wide) |
01. Paradise 02. Icey 03. The Answer In Your Eyes 04. Asia's Theme |
05. Shana 06. Tell Me About It Now 07. Feel It Comin' |
01. Winelight 02. Let It Flow (for Dr. J) 03. In The Name Of Love |
04. Take Me There 05. Just The Two Of Us 06. Make Me A Memory (sad samba) |
01. East River Drive 02. Come Morning 03. Be Mine (tonight) 04. Reaching Out |
05. Jamming 06. Little Black Samba 07. Making Love To You 08. I'm All Yours |
01. Black Frost 02. Do Dat 03. Summer Song 04. A Secret Place 05. Ain't No Sunshine 06. Mercy Mercy Me (the ecology) |
07. It Feels So Good 08. Mister Magic 09. No Tears (in the end) 10. Inner City Blues make (me wanna holler) 11. Lean On Me 12. Masterpiece |
01. Can You Dig It 02. The Best Is Yet To Come 03. More Than Meets The Eye 04. Things Are Getting Better |
05. Mixty Motions 06. Brazilian Memories 07. I'll Be With You 08. Cassie's Theme |
01. Inside Moves 02. Dawn Song 03. Watching You Watching Me 04. Secret Sounds |
05. Jet Stream 06. When I look At You 07. Sassy Stew |
01. Resthatherian 02. Camille 03. Love In It's Proper Place 04. Poppin' 05. Kitchen Jazz |
06. Clair (Phylicia) 07. The Huxtable Kids 08. Outstretched Hands 09. Look At This 10. A House Full Of Love |
01. Strawberry Moon 02. The Look Of Love 03. Shivaree Ride 04. Caught A Touch Of Your Love 05. Maddie's Blues |
06. I Will Be Here For You 07. Monte Carlo Nights 08. Keep In Touch 09. Summer Nights |
01. Blues For D. P. 02. Just Enough 03. French Connections 04. Something Borrowed, Something Blue |
05. Lullaby For Shana Bly 06. Stolen Moments 07. In A Sentimental Mood 08. Stella By Starlight |
01. Jamaica 02. Gramercy Park 03. Sacred Kind Of Love 04. Brand New Age 05. Fly Away 06. Don't Take Your Love From Me |
07. Time Out Of Mind 08. Split Second (act II, the bar scene) 09. Nice 'N' Easy 10. Unspoken Love 11. Protect The Dream |
01. Take Five (take another five) 02. Your Love 03. Only For You (siempre para ti) 04. Greene Street 05. Next Exit 06. I Miss Home |
07. Love Like This 08. Summer Chill 09. Till You Return To Me 10. Get On Up 11. Check Out Grover |
01. E Preciso Perdoar 02. When I Fall In Love 03. I'm Glad There Is You 04. Happenstance 05. All My Tomorrows 06. Nature Boy |
07. Please Send Me Someone To Love 08. Overjoyed 09. Flamingo 10. For Heaven's Sake 11. Estate (ess-tah-tay) (In Summer) |
01. Soulful Strut 02. Can You Stop The Rain 03. Play That Groove For Me 04. Bordertown 05. I Can Count The Times |
06. Village Groove 07. Headman's Haunt 08. Poacher Man 09. Mystical Force 10. Uptown |
01. Mister Magic 02. Just The Two Of Us 03. It Feels So Good 04. Inner City Blues 05. Black Frost 06. Summer Song |
07. Reed Seed (trio tune) 08. Bright Moments 09. The Best Is Yet To Come 10. Ain't No Sunshine 11. Moonstreams |
01. Je Crois Entendre Encore 02. Pourquoi Me Reveiller? 03. Flower Duet 04. Amor Ti Vieta 05. O Mio Babbino Caro 06. Donna Non Vidi Mai |
07. Ch'ella Mi Creda 08. My Man's Gone Now 09. O Soave Fanciulla 10. E Lucevan le Stelle 11. Au Fond Du Temple Saint 12. Vissi d'Arte |
01. Mister Magic 02. It Feels So Good 03. A Secret Place 04. Do Dat 05. Inner City Blues |
06. Knucklehead 07. I Can't Help It 08. Snake Eyes 09. No Tears (in the end) |