Grover Washington Jr. biography, Grover Washington Jr. discography
Thank you for sharing this video!This video has been added to your favorites.The video has been added to your playlist.Sign in with your Google Account!Sign in with your Google Account!This video has no Responses.Be the first to Post a Video Response.Change this to see only comments above a certain value.Paul Griffin (on the synth) died in about 2000 or so.Would you like to comment?June 27, 1981, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USAG...June 27, 1981, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USAGrover Washington Jr.Where the Hell is Matt?...December 1999, was among the most beloved instrumentalists in popular music.Inner City Blues, the saxophonist was in the vanguard of popular sound.He joined Sony Classical with a collection of opera arias (SK 61864), which was recorded in May 1999 and released in early 2000.My main motive is to move on.Washington made his reputation with a series of recordings made in the 70s.He began to play sessions with the likes of Bob James, Randy Weston, Eric Gale and Dave Grusin, and in 1980 his album The Winelight won two GRAMMY Awards, vaulting him to the forefront of jazz fusion.Washington's love of music began as a child growing up in Buffalo, New York.Jack McDuff, Harold Vick and Charles Lloyd.My professional life began at age twelve.Soon afterward, he was drafted into the Army, where he met Drummer Billy Cobham, who introduced him to several prominent New York musicians.The saxophonist soon began freelancing in New York and Philadelphia.SONY CLASSICAL and the Sony Classical logo are registered trademarks of, and are used under license from, Sony Corporation.Washington was sometimes blamed for the faults of his followers; Kenny G.Washington was sometimes blamed for the faults of his followers; Kenny G.However, most of the time (except when relying on long hit medleys), Washington pushed himself with the spontaneity and chance taking of a masterful jazz musician.His biggest break occurred in 1971, when Hank Crawford could not make it to a recording date; 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 1980's Winelight; the latter included the Bill Withers hit "Just the Two of Us."The posthumous Aria was issued early the following year.His biggest break occurred in 1971, when Hank Crawford could not make it to a recording date; Washington was picked as his replacement, and the result was Inner City Blues, a big seller.Scott Yanow, All Music Guide', 'One of the most popular saxophonists of all time (even his off records had impressive sales), Grover Washington, Jr.Use commas to separate tags.Write a ReviewYour TakeTell the world what you think about Grover Washington, Jr.!AEC One Stop Group, Inc.Visit other CNET Networks sites: Select SiteBNETCHOWCNET."After I started playing," Grover says,
"I'd sneak into clubs to watch guys like Jack McDuff, Harold Vick and Charles
Lloyd.My professional life began at age twelve.Grover left Buffalo to play in the Midwest with a group called the
Four Clefs.After playing in organist Charles Earland's band, and recording as
a sideman for the CTI and Prestige labels, Grover recorded
Breakout with Johnny Hammond.The album was a
bestseller, and it established Grover as a major new voice on
saxophone.So impressed was Creed Taylor, Hammond's producer and head of CTI,
that he signed Grover to a contract as a leader.When his debut as a
leader, Inner City Blues was released in 1971, Grover
was still working at a Philadelphia record wholesaler, "I was
unloading boxes of records with my own name on them," Grover recalls
with a hint of irony.Bob James, Randy
Weston, Eric Gale, and Dave Grusin.American proclaimed the
album, "A true masterpiece by an artist who has the ability to
combine the better elements of pop, soul and jazz and transform them
into a form uniquely his."Perhaps the greatest recognition came
through record distributors, much like the one Grover had once worked
in.Grover's subsequent albums extended his reputation even further.Come Morning (1981) featured Ralph MacDonald, Steve
Gadd, Eric Gale, Richard Tee, Marcus Miller, and vocals by Grady
Tate; it earned Grover his fourth Gold recording.For Then and
Now (1988), Grover explored the many facets of his musical
expression, aided by jazz starts Tommy Flanagan, Herbie Hancock, Ron
Carter and Marvin "Smitty" Smith.On Time Out of Mind
(1990), Grover scored another hit with vocalist Phyllis Hyman with
'Sacred kind of Love.And on Next Exit (1992), Grover
explored several musical avenues, reinventing a classic Paul Desmond
tune, "Take Five," as his own "Take Another Five," teaming up with
The Four Tops and Lalah Hathaway, even dipping into rap.In the early eighties, Grover played a major role in establishing
the Philadelphia group Pieces of a Dream, for whom he produced three
albums.These successes, and many, many more awards and credits as
producer, player and composer, over two decades have today made
Grover Washington, Jr.Reflecting on all that, Grover says, "I'm thankful for the people
who inspired me over the years: Dexter Gordon, Rahsaan Roland Kirk,
Stanley Turrentine, Cannonball Adderley, Sonny Rollins, Oliver
Nelson."I'm just staying true to the things that got me to play in
the first place."Perhaps producer Todd Barkan puts it best, with a quote he
and Grover heard many times from Dexter Gordon on the bandstand:
"Ladies and gentlemen, I hope we give you something to put under your
pillows."
|
