Remembering Grover Washington, Jr. with "Grover Live"
May 18, 2010 at 5:20 AM ✺Good morning✺
I was inspired to write this post about saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr. after listening to an advance copy of "Grover Live" over the weekend.
There was a bit of melancholy for me as I reflected on Mr. Washington's unexpected death back in 1999.
That feeling disappeared as I heard his exuberant sax playing on this previously unreleased 1997 recording of a performance at the Paramount Center for the Arts in Peekskill, New York.
Listen to the first track from the CD on the iMusicTweet.com player:
When I was growing up in Philadelphia, Grover was just about everywhere. I wonder if I took his talent for granted because he was everywhere? There is an arrogance (or ignorance) that we possess in our youth that doesn't quite jibe with what really goes on in the world.
"He'll always be around." "Nothing ever changes." "I've got more important, pressing things to do."
I digress.
This CD - "Grover Live" - seamlessly takes you on a musical journey that reminds me of summers in Philly along East River Drive (known as Kelly Drive from 1985 onward) or a breezy part of Valley Green. Almost everyone would escape to Fairmount Park to get away from the unbearable summer heat that one must deal with when you reside in a concrete jungle.
The music could also remind someone of driving on Hwy 1, going through Big Sur in California with the top down on the car. Or, hanging with friends at the beach, whether that beach is in Florida, the Caribbean or on the western coast of Morocco.
The track listing:
- Winelight with Intro [7:37]
- Take Five (Take Another Five) [10:56]
- Soulful Strut [4:00]
- Grover Talks [1:21]
- Mystical Force [5:58]
- Uptown [5:59]
- Sassy Stew [6:04]
- Grover Talks Again [0:49]
- Black Frost [1:13]
- Inner City Blues [0:52]
- Strawberry Moon [1:10]
- Inside Moves [1:12]
- Jamaica [1:23]
- East River Drive [2:30]
- Just The Two of Us [1:45]
- Sausalito [6:01]
- Let It Flow (For "Dr. J") [11:44]
- Mr. Magic [9:10]
I want to thank GRAMMY-award winning producer, composer, arranger and musician Jason Miles for gifting me with a copy of this thoroughly enjoyable CD. Thank you, Jason!
It's up to YOU now ~ make it your business to get this album ~ You'll thank me later. 
Reader Comments (3)
I absolutely love the blog, and love this post.
Thank you for your thoughts on Grover Live. You are a true tastemaker that gets it.
i encourage you to stay the course-you have a voice that needs to and will be heard
Peace, jason
Hi, LaVonne and Jason!
LaVonne ~ Thank you for visiting! I'm glad that you enjoyed this post (and ♥ the blog). Very cool...
Jason ~ Wow! Thank YOU for the encouragement. Listening to Mr. Washington's album brought back warm and fuzzy feelings about Philadelphia. That fact alone is very impressive. :-)
:DM