Sunday, October 13, 2024

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!

2 comments:



  1. http://www.filefactory.com/file/600te1grzyq4/F0907.zip

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  2. Many thanks! My sister loved this record, so I remember it from 1975...

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