Grover Washington Jr

Instrumentalist Grover Washington Jr. (sax) caught on with jazz, soul and pop fans alike. His own easy going tunes, stripped down arrangements of already familiar melodies and above all Washington's use of vocalists, allowed him access to pop radio with "Just The Two Of Us" (with Bill Withers) and "The Best Is Yet To Come" (with Patti Labelle). However Gold takes listeners back a decade earlier with the opening pair of Marvin Gaye covers on "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)" and "Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology)." It was around this time that Washington joined forces with a fellow up and comer named Bob James (piano). Together they composed "Black Frost," while James also arranged and conducted the score of that cut, "Mister Magic," "It Feels So Good" and "Moonstreams." By the mid '70s Washington had signed with Motown Records. That period is represented by the original "Reed Seed," as well as an update of Rashaan Roland Kirk's "Bright Moments."

Folks looking for the unedited versions of the hits "Just The Two Of Us" and "Let It Flow" -- Washington's dedication to NBA icon Dr. J., Julius Erving -- can find them both here. Along with other vocal collaborations, "Be Mine (Tonight)" with Grady Tate, "Look At This," with voiceover by Bill Cosby, "Sacred Kind Of Love," featuring Phyllis Hyman, and Lalah Hathaway on "Love Like This." As a fitting tribute to the late jazzman, this anthology concludes with Washington accompanying the Orchestra Of St. Luke's on Puccini's "Vissi D'Arte" -- translated as "I Lived For Art."

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