GROVER WASHINGTON JR — Inner City Blues (review)

GROVER WASHINGTON JR — Inner City Blues album cover Album · 1971 · Soul Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
js
Although Grover Washington has spent most of his successful career within the realms of pop jazz, there is no denying the deep soulfulness of his playing and his mastery of the saxophone. Back in 1972, when “Inner City Blues” was released (Grover’s first album), pop jazz and RnB crossover music still had a lot of grit and soul to it. This album has one foot in the soul jazz sound of the 60s, and one foot in the coming RnB crossover sound of the 70s, and it grooves relentlessly like a low-riding Impala from start to finish. Collectors of rare groove vinyl will find enough wah-wah guitars and Fender Rhodes flourishes on here to keep them happy, and it is still easy to find it in LP form at a very economical price. There are some string and horn arrangements on here, masterfully handled by Bob James, but this orchestra is real and unprocessed, and the arrangements are fresh and jazzy. The overall effect of the orchestra is more like a classic early 70s soul single, not a boring slab of mid-70s fuzak. This one is highly recommended for fans of classic instrumental soul jazz that has a little more sophistication than the usual blues workout.
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Matt wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Sounds good John and I love a debut. I have a couple of Grover's myself. Once had one from the library and put it on a cassette and I have been meaning to actually buy it. "Soulful Strut", great album.

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