GROVER WASHINGTON JR — Feels So Good (review)

GROVER WASHINGTON JR — Feels So Good album cover Album · 1975 · Funk Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
js
Its interesting how some music ages better than others. Back in the mid-70s, this sort of commercial jazz-funk seemed like a sell-out in the wake of more adventurous fusion from the likes of Miles Davis and Billy Cobham. Going back and re-visiting this music on its own terms today reveals some great funky grooves topped by hot solos, and like a good wine, a lot of this music has somehow improved with age. “Feels so Good” was Grover Washington’s sixth album and it came hot on the heels of his hugely popular “Mister Magic” album with its hit crossover single of the same name. If you are thinking this was a quick knockoff to capitalize on his new found popularity, there might be some truth to that, but they at least took the time to craft a great timeless RnB/jazz album.

If you aren’t expecting some sort of tribute/extension of his “Mr Magic” single on here, then you don’t know the world of RnB. Artists in this genre are encouraged and even expected to reference their previous hits and even build on them with endless variations. Think of how many “Popcorns” James Brown has out there for a good example. The title song, “It Feels so Good”, is Washington’s ‘remake’ of “Mr Magic” and it has very similar verses, choruses and horn breaks, but in typical RnB fashion it also shows off some new tricks with more complicated breaks and a more extended chorus structure. It’s a great song and satisfies his audience’s craving for another “Mr Magic”, only better.

There’s a lot of nice surprises on here. “Moonstreams” is a spacey fusion ballad, almost psychedelic, with a very nice melody and no pop sugar-coating. With a song title like “Knucklehead” you expect some hard funk, and you get it, plus a great screaming electric guitar solo from the usually mellow Eric Gale. All through this album the funk beats are hard and real and unhampered with slick production or compression. Grover plays many excellent solos and shows why he is one of the best in modern tenor players and not too bad on the soprano as well. Some of the choruses have the strings and other discoisms of the day, but its all good once they get back on the verse and ride for another great solo.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Lee Ritenour & Dave Grusin : Brasil Latin Jazz
LEE RITENOUR
Buy this album from MMA partners
From The North - Gogo Penguin Live In Manchester Nu Jazz
GOGO PENGUIN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Anthony Braxton Saxophone Quartet : Sax QT (Lorraine) 2022 Avant-Garde Jazz
ANTHONY BRAXTON
Buy this album from MMA partners
Sean Khan Presents The Modern Folk & Jazz Ensemble Nu Jazz
SEAN KHAN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Yass Big Band : imMATHEMATICS Eclectic Fusion
TYMAŃSKI YASS ENSEMBLE / YASS BIG BAND
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Fall
SUNNY KIM
js· 11 hours ago
Twilight
RANDY SCOTT
js· 1 day ago
Trifecta - Beck and Call - official video (taken from The New Normal)
TRIFECTA
js· 2 days ago
Phoenix
GRÉGORY PRIVAT
js· 2 days ago
Karrin Allyson EPK for NEW Album "A Kiss For Brazil" Available May 17, 2024 ©Origin Records
KARRIN ALLYSON
js· 2 days ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed