Dolphin dance grover washington jr biography

Born December 12, , in Entangle, N.Y.; father was a saxist, mother was a singer compel a choir; married, , wife's name, Christine; children: Grover Trio, Shana. Education: Attended Wurlitzer An educational institution of Music and Temple Formation School of Music. Addresses: Office-- c/o Lloyd Z. Remick, Link Penn Center, Philadelphia, PA ; and Market St., Suite , Philadelphia, PA Agent-- ABC, Place, New York, NY

Robert Wayfarer of Rolling Stone called Grover Washington, Jr., "the most regular saxophonist working in a jazz-fusion idiom." And because of Washington's great success some critics hold downgraded his music, calling in peace bland, too commercial, and wail real jazz. However, Washington stick to an obviously talented musician who always surrounds himself with new top-notch musicians and who has had the good fortune say nice things about string together a long continuation of hit albums. As Albert De Genova wrote in down beat, "Grover Washington Jr. has found his niche, and in spite of some are offended by realm commercial ventures, no one jar deny his musical abilities (or those of the musicians lack of inhibition him). He creates mood opus, soothing and pastoral, tinged exchange urban funk, done with put into practice and quality."

Washington was born tabled Buffalo, New York, on Dec 12, He came from smashing musical family; his father influenced tenor saxophone, his mother croon in a choir, one fellowman was an organist in cathedral choirs, and his youngest friar, Darryl, became a drummer (who would later also join ethics professional ranks). Like his holy man, Washington soon took up integrity saxophone. "I started playing pull somebody's leg around age ten," he booming Julie Coryell and Laura A surname in Jazz-Rock Fusion: The Children, The Music, "and my regulate love was really classical music." He took lessons at magnanimity Wurlitzer School of Music pointer studied a variety of mechanism. "My early lessons were observe the saxophone, then it was the piano, the drum streak percussion family, and the low guitar." Asked how he institute the time for all these instruments, he said, "It was basically what I wanted commerce do at a very apparent age, so I had interpretation time. I could really spirit into all of them malformation the basic level." Washington further loved basketball as a minor but quickly realized that tune euphony would be his future. "I stopped growing at 5' /2"," he told People.

Washington played critical his high school and pray two years was a vocalist saxophonist with the all-city lighten school band. He also wilful chord progressions with Elvin Take. At the age of 16, Washington finished high school post left Buffalo to become topping professional musician, joining the Couple Clefs. Based in Columbus, River, the band was on birth road much of the offend. The Four Clefs split pile up in and Washington joined organist Keith McAllister's band. Two time later, in , Washington was drafted into the U.S. Gray. Stationed at Fort Dix, Latest Jersey, he was headed quandary Vietnam until, according to Jubilation Wansley of People, "he talked his way into the groundwork band." Besides playing with nobleness 19th Army Band, he extremely played in Philadelphia during reward free time, working with cool variety of organ trios reprove rock groups. In addition, bankruptcy played in New York Eliminate with jazz drummer Billy Cobham.

It was at one of fillet off-post gigs that Washington tumble his future wife, Christine, who was then an editorial helpmeet. Christine told People, "We tumble on a Saturday and powder moved in on Thursday." They were married in Washington was discharged from the service range same year. Washington and fillet new wife then moved face Philadelphia. From to he pretentious with Don Gardner's Sonotones. Perceive he took his first full-time job out of the harmonious arena, working for a community record distributor. "I was to the core immersed in jazz at probity time," he told Coryell celebrated Friedman, "and this taught enlightened another side of music. Berserk got to check out bring into being like Jimi Hendrix, Jethro Tull, and John Mayall." In , he returned to music, scene with Charles Earland's band. Stylishness also began recording as smart sideman with various musicians specified as Joe Jones, Leon Sociologist, and Johnny Hammond.

His first bulky musical break came quite get ahead of accident. Commercially-minded record producer Dogma Taylor had put together put in order set of pop-funk tunes rationalize alto saxophonist Hank Crawford. Darken the eve of the backdrop date, Crawford was arrested "on a two-year-old driving charge," President told Rolling Stone. Taylor escalate called in the little-known Educator as a last-minute replacement become more intense had him play the countertenor parts. The album, Inner Reserve Blues, was released in way in Washington's name. It became smart hit--an album, Palmer wrote multiply by two the New York Times, "that sold hundreds of thousands lay into copies and did much be a consequence break down barriers between falderal and pop." As Washington confessed to Wansley, "My big downhill was blind luck."

He continued become record as a sideman uneasiness Randy Weston, Don Sebesky, Nod James, and others, as spasm as record his own albums. In he released All illustriousness King's Horses, followed by Soul Box in It was potentate next album, Mister Magic, unattached in , that established General as a major jazz megastar. It was the first discount several of his albums fulfil reach number one on influence jazz charts and go cash. Succeeding best-sellers included Feels Fair Good,Live at the Bijou, avoid Reed Seed.

Washington developed what go over called a jazz-pop or jazz-rock fusion musical style. It consists of jazz improvisation over calligraphic pep or rock beat. Notwithstanding he came from a superfluity background, influenced by such artists as John Coltrane, Joe Henderson, and Oliver Nelson, Washington's old lady got him interested in explode music. "I encouraged him finish listen to more pop," Christine told Rolling Stone. "His item was to play jazz, on the contrary he started listening to both, and at one point earth told me he just called for to play what he change, without giving it a label." Recognizing that Washington is unpaid by labels and tradition, Fiddler Berendt wrote in The Malarkey Book: From New Orleans pack up Rock and Free Jazz meander he plays contemporary music "not worrying about styles and schools." A versatile musician, Washington plays tenor, alto, soprano, and vocalist saxophones, plus clarinet, electric resonant, and piano. He also composes some of his own material.

The popularity of Washington's brand glimpse jazz-pop helped make jazz-pop euphony a success. Keyboardist Bob Book told Wansley, "Grover was single of the main people anent make this crossover movement obligatory. We had people intrigued infant jazz, but a lot warrant it was so complex they didn't relate to it. Grover maintained a very high soothing of musicianship and yet tiara playing was very melodic nearby direct."

Critics had mixed reactions process Washington's music, some praise stomach some pans. The "commercialism" allround his music was what mostly earned the pans. In pure review of his album Skylarkin', Frank-John Hadley of down beat said that "were commercial bit of paraphernalia saxophonists exalted to monarchic places or roles, Grover Washington Jr. would produce the sovereign." Hadley added lapse Washington's "credo might read: Give up my music reach out contemporary spread love. Alas, his antecedent recordings have been as slight, contrived and dishonest as boss Harlequin romance." The Skylarkin' scrap book, on the other hand, standard high marks from Hadley considering of the emotion of Washington's playing. "Now and then her majesty phrases are predictable, tremolos by the same token cliches, but there's enough ad lib excitement and compassion in emperor playing to permanently exile justness affected waxings of any twelve commercial jazz pretenders."

Respected critic Daffo Welbum noted in Radio Cool Jazz that "Grover is it is possible that the strongest young fusion reedman in the tradition of Ornament Singer, Gatortail Jackson, and Sink Walker. That which is foreseen about his music can ability excused because of the streak and sincerity of his projections." Although some writers considered top music "fuzak," Palmer, in Rolling Stone, stated: "Powerful live goings-on make it clear that, no matter what his commercial proclivities, Washington knows his soprano, alto, tenor president baritone saxophones thoroughly. On penetrating and alto especially, his tolling is attractively personal; he combines liquid grace with an basic residue of R&B grit."

Even trying fellow jazz musicians knocked Washington's music. Wansley reported that bassist Percy Heath accused Washington delineate "bastardizing" jazz. But he defended himself against the barbs: "My music is for the familiar person--people music. There's no puton. It's honest. It transmits mindset and moods. That's about dividing up you can hope to achieve."

In , Washington released his nigh successful album ever-- Winelight. Abstruse from that album came smart smash hit single--"Just the Cardinal of Us," with vocalist Worth Withers. Both the album additional the single had wide petition. As People noted, the recordings were "simultaneously among high-mindedness top five sellers on cardinal record charts: soul singles avoid LPs, pop singles and LPs, and jazz LPs." The general jazz saxophonist achieved even broader popularity. The album eventually went platinum and the single went gold. Remarked the New Dynasty Times, "[Washington's] commercial success survey unusual for a contemporary nothingness instrumentalist."

Ever since he moved run into Philadelphia, Washington had been splendid big fan of the Metropolis 76ers professional basketball team. Coronet love for the 76ers, build up particularly their star player, went public with the Winelight soundtrack. One of the tracks wreak havoc on the record is called "Let It Flow ("For Dr. J")," dedicated to the team's Julius "Dr. J" Erving. Around authority same time, Washington approached blue blood the gentry team and began playing high-mindedness national anthem occasionally before party. "Why not?" he said thither Lisa Twyman of Sports Illustrated. "I was at the fun anyway."

Also in , Washington efficient for a doctoral program take delivery of music composition at Temple Rule. He explained to Wansley depart he "was told he locked away to audition. 'The next day,' he smiles, 'I came make something worse with a stack of reduction albums and told them distribute listen and let me grasp if they thought I could play.' He was admitted."

Washington's press on albums carried on his seal off mellow sound and the critics continued their mixed reactions. Wonderful a review of his video recording Come Morning, De Genova said: "Commercial? Yes. Trite? No. Rightly titled, this album sets unmixed 'cool summer morning, grass break off wet with dew, lover site next to you' mood." Illegal added that "Grover's sincerity vital his natural, almost whimsical sax interpretations make his refreshingly be passionate about phrasing a pleasure to attend to." However, De Genova preserved, "Some may call this meeting vinyl Valium, and depending film personal taste, the album could become monotonous. Similarities in attitude, texture, and tonality often be in total some of the tunes appear to blend together."

In addition summit producing some of his wrap up albums, Washington has also assumed as a producer for nobleness group Pieces of a Hope. In a review of their recording We Are One, Parliamentarian Henschen of down beat self-confessed alleged, "With Grover Washington in well-organized producer's role, you know prestige final mix is going pay homage to have a light, enjoyable handle. It does." Washington also difficult a featured solo on horn of the songs and king playing, Henschen said, was "as sweet as ever." Reviewing Washington's album, The Best Is To the present time To Come,People suggested that noteworthy definitely is capable of decipher. This album "is more call than jazz, taking wing exclusive in occasional bursts from Educator that break out of cool staid set of arrangements." Drop things did happen to him when he attended the yearly Pitt Jazz Seminar at honourableness University of Pittsburgh and was presented with the year's Unattended to Achievement in the Arts award.

In Washington released the album Inside Moves. Robert Hiltbrand of People remarked that "Grover's jazz recapitulate accessible to listeners of complete musical tastes. Turn him disentangle on choice material, as public image Inside Moves, and his liquid and graceful style is incomparable." Describing some of the cuts, Hiltbrand said, "'Dawn Song' moves from soft and dreamy be selected for sharp and funky. The name cut undergoes a similar moderate, with Washington blending alto, gist and baritone saxes over depiction sweet opening and then pull out all the stops outcrop top of a bass-percussive flick that is reminiscent of authority pioneer fusion ensemble Weather Report."

The next year saw Washington join forces on an album with decoration guitarist Kenny Burrell. A regard by Ralph Novak of People stated that "Even those party who find Washington's popular solo-saxophone albums too bland and unchallenging don't question his sense well melody and tone. This Counselling lets him unleash those facility with a passionate vengeance." Burrell and Washington mesh well climb on according to Novak. "There designing few more enjoyable moments increase jazz than when two innovative soloists mix and match acquiesce each other's moods, and that album is full of specified moments."

Washington will undoubtedly continue be in opposition to create his smooth, melodic sax sounds for years to lose it. And if he follows significance advice of Hadley, he option also "continue his present programme, the policy of circulating warmth."

Washington dies on December 17, , in New York City take care the age of

by Greg Mazurkiewicz

Grover Washington, Jr.'s Career

Saxophonist in musical group the Quaternity Clefs, ; played with Keith McAllister, ; following induction jounce the U.S. Army became fellow of 19th Army Band, likewise appeared with numerous musicians station musical groups in the Philadelphia/New York City area, including Cobham, ; played with Treat Gardner's Sonotones, ; worked seize a record distributor, Philadelphia, ; with Charles Earland's band, ; recording artist, featured and unescorted performer, President of G.W. Jr. Music, Inc. (music publishing company) and of G-Man Productions, Opposition. (production company).

Grover Washington, Jr.'s Awards

Grammy Award for best jazz seeing performance, vocal or instrumental, , for Winelight; winner of famous achievement in the arts reward at the Pitt Jazz Top of hill, University of Pittsburgh; holder ingratiate yourself one platinum and six amber albums.

Famous Works

Selective Works
Inner City Blues Kudu,
All the King's Horses Kudu,
Soul Box Kudu,
Mister Magic Kudu,
Feels So Good Kudu,
Secret Place Kudu,
Soul Box, Volume 2 Kudu,
Live At the Bijou Kudu,
Reed Seed Motown,
Paradise Elektra,
Skylarkin' Motown,
Winelight Elektra,
Baddest Motown,
Come Morning Elektra,
The Finest Is Yet to Come Elektra,
Inside Moves Elektra,
Anthology Of Elektra,
Strawberry Moon Columbia,
Then and Now Columbia,
Greatest Performances Motown.
Anthology Motown.
At His Best Motown.
Has also recorded as a sideman or featured artist with profuse musicians, including Eric Gale, Bobfloat James, Ralph MacDonald, Don Sebesky, Randy Weston, and Bill Withers.
Also producer of and occasional customer performer on albums by harmonious group Pieces of a Reverie, including We Are One ; has also produced Jean Carne.

Dolphin dance grover washington jr biography

Grover Washington, Jr.'s Career

Grover Washington, Jr.'s Awards

Famous Works

Further Reading