Re: grover washington

William M Dwyer
Mon, 23 Mar 1998 15:09:12 -0500 (EST)


On Mon, 23 Mar 1998, Rickey Vincent wrote:

> My spin on Grover years:
> 70-74 smooth but rather tame acid-jazz instrumentals
> 75-79 heavier, stankier funk-jazz period..
> 80-90's 'clean' pop jazz, be warned.
>
> **but don't sleep on a Live performance of Grover!!! He's still tha
> sheeeit!!

Thanks for the retro on Grover. I've picked up the Mister Magic and
Winelight albums on CD in recent times and have one of his more recent
recordings (can't recall the title but has "soul strut" on it--the best
track). I've been a Grover fan since the 70s but lost interest in his
recorded stuff because of what happened (or didn't) in the 80s. I've got
lots of the older stuff on cassette and have been wanting to go back and
find out which were the good albums I used to listen too--but haven't had
the initiative to get into those old tapes. Your review really helps--now
I know what to go after.

And you're right--regardless of recorded material, he puts on a helluva
live show. I recall a few years back he played at the Jacksonville jazz
festival. He wasn't the headliner--Bela Fleck was--but he stole the show
and then came back to jam with the Flecktones which made their show that
much better. I've been longing to catch him live again!

bil
bdwyer@ufl.edu