Grover Washington, Jr. - 1975 - Feels So Good

Grover Washington, Jr. 

1975

Feels So Good

01. The Sea Lion

02. Moonstreams

03. Knucklehead

04. Feels So Good

05. Hydra

Piano, Electric Piano, Synthesizer – Bob James

Bass – Gary King (tracks: A1 to A3)

Bass – Louis Johnson (tracks: B1, B2)

Bass Trombone – Alan Ralph

Bass Trombone – Dave Taylor

Cello – Charles McCracken

Cello – Seymour Barab

Drums – Jimmy Madison (tracks: A3)

Drums – Kenneth "Spider Webb" Rice* (tracks: B1, B2)

Drums – Steve Gadd (tracks: A1, A2)

Guitar – Eric Gale

Oboe, English Horn – Sid Weinberg

Percussion – Ralph MacDonald

Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Grover Washington, Jr.

Trombone – Barry Rogers

Trumpet, Flugelhorn – John Frosk

Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Jon Faddis

Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Randy Brecker

Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Bob Millikan

Viola – Al Brown

Viola – Manny Vardi

Violin – Barry Finclair

Violin – David Nadien

Violin – Emanuel Green

Violin – Guy Lumia

Violin – Harold Lookofsky

Violin – Lewis Eley

Violin – Max Ellen

Violin – Raoul Poliakin

Recorded at Van Gelder Studios in May and July 1975

The aptly titled and much-sampled Feels So Good represents the creative apex of Grover Washington, Jr.'s sublime electric funk sound. Its shimmering, soulful grooves refute the argument that smooth jazz is little more than mere ambience, combining expert playing and intricate songwriting to create music that is both compelling and comforting. Arranger Bob James is in top form here, creating the spacious, rich milieus that are his trademark, but regardless of the name above the title, bassist Louis Johnson is the real star of the show. His supple rhythms percolate like coffee, adding oomph to the bottom of highlights "Hydra" and "Knucklehead" while Washington's cream-and-sugar soprano sax solos soar over the top.

An incredible batch of electric funk from Grover Washington Jr – easily one of his best albums ever! The record really picks up from the sweet CTI sound of the 70s – taking Bob James arrangements with a lot of space and electric keyboards, and letting Groover blow some wonderfully soulful lines over the top on soprano sax! The album's got some really wonderful funk tracks that feature a mad mix of drums, bass, and lots of that Bob James "space" – including the massive cuts "Hydra" and "Knucklehead" – both of them magic!