Earl Klugh - Finger Paintings (1977)

This might be one of Earl's greatest albums whereby the intricacies and yet simple music only Earl can produce. The music in the album ranges from slow heartbreaking "Christina" to finger snapping "Cabo Frio". The arrangements in "summer song" is nice. His renditions of Dance with Me, This Time (another great song from a great jazz artist, Al Jarreau),John Taylor's "Long ago and far away" are timeless classics! ~ C. Tongol, Amazon.com

I've been listening to Earl Klugh for over 30 years and this is one of my favorites. Great for dedicated listening and for just having in the background, very accessible and relaxing. ~ ejr1953, Amazon.com

Blue Note; BN-LA737-H, 1977

Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab, UDCD 549, 1991

Recorded, Mixed, and Mastered at Kendun Recorders, Burbank, California

Personnel:

Earl Klugh - Acoustic Guitar

Dave Grusin - Fender Rhodes, Synthesizer, Percussion (#5,6)

Lee Ritenour - Electric Guitar (#1-3,5,9), 12-String Guitar (#9)

Chuck Findley, Dick Hyde, Jack Nimitz, Jerome Richardson, Tom Scott, Lawrence Williams - Horns

Anthony Jackson - Electric Bass (#1-3,5,9)

Louis Johnson - Electric Bass (#4,6,7)

Francisco Centeno - Electric Bass (#8)

Harvey Mason - Drums (#2,3,5,9)

Steve Gadd - Drums (#1,4,6-8)

Ralph MacDonald - Percussion (#1,2,7,9)

Steve Forman - Percussion (#3,4,8)

Arnold Belnick, Pamela Goldsmith, Endre Granat, Allan Harshman, Karen Jones, Jacob Krachmalnick, Bernard Kundell,

Edgar Lustgarten, David Montagu, Constance Pressman, Dana L. Rees, Sheldon Sanov, Marshall Sosson, Ann M. Stockton, and Gerald Vince - Strings

Alexandra Brown, Lisa Roberts, Stephanie Spruill - Vocals (#4)

Dave Grusin - Arranger, Conductor

Tom Scott - Arranger [Horns] (#4)

Tracks:

1. Dr. Macumba {Earl Klugh} (4:26)

2. Long Ago And Far Away {James Taylor} (5:36)

3. Cabo Frio {Earl Klugh} (3:32)

4. Keep Your Eyes On The Sparrow{Dave Grusin, Morgan Ames} (4:40)

5. Catherine {Earl Klugh} (4:11)

6. Dance With Me {Johanna Hall, John Joseph Hall} (3:26)

7. Jolanta {Earl Klugh} (3:02)

8. Summer Song {Earl Klugh} (4:09)

9. This Time {Earl Klugh} (3:41)

Credits:

Producer - Dave Grusin, Larry Rosen

Executive-Producer - Dr. George Butler

Recording & Mixing Engineer - Larry Rosen

Mastering Engineer - John Golden

Recording [Strings & Horns] - Phil Schier

Photography - Greg Heisler

Design - Bill Burks

Notes:

"Summer Song" recorded at Electric Lady Studios, New York

Strings recorded at Columbia Studios, 30th Street, New York

Grover Washington, Jr. - Feels So Good (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. ~ by Jason Ankeny, AMG.

Kudu Records, KU-24 S1, 1975

Recorded May & July, 1975 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:

Grover Washington Jr. - Tenor & Soprano Saxophones

John Frosk, Jon Faddis, Randy Brecker, Bob Millikan - Trumpet, Flugelhorn

Barry Rogers - Trombone

Alan Ralph, Dave Taylor - Bass Trombone

Sid Weinberg - Oboe, English Horn

Bob James - Piano, Electric Piano, Synthesizer

Eric Gale - Guitar

Gary King - Bass (#A1-A3)

Louis Johnson - Bass (#B1,B2)

Steve Gadd - Drums (#A1,A2)

Kenneth "Spider Webb" Rice - Drums (#B1,B2)

Ralph MacDonald - Percussion

Charles McCracken, Seymour Barab - Cello

Alfred Brown, Manny Vardi - Viola

Barry Finclair, David Nadien, Emanuel Green, Guy Lumia,
Harry Lookofsky, Lewis Eley, Max Ellen, Raoul Poliakin - Violin

Tracks:

A1. The Sea Lion {Bob James} (5:57)

A2. Moonstreams {Grover Washington Jr.} (5:55)

A3. Knucklehead {Grover Washington Jr.} (7:59)

B1. It Feels So Good {Ralph MacDonald, William Salter} (8:19)

B2. Hydra {Grover Washington Jr.} (9:09)

Credits:

Producer - Creed Taylor

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Arranger - Bob James

Photography - Alen MacWeeney

Art Direction & Design - Richard Mantel

Liner Note - Todd Barkan