Grover Washington Jr - Winelight - LP

With the 2x Grammy-winning Winelight, Grover Washington Jr. Produced a magical collection of jazz and soul with a touch of pop. He set the standard for the smooth jazz genre - the band is tight, the solos terrific and the arrangements understated and tasteful. Top to bottom Winelight is superb, masterfully recorded and perhaps best-known for the hit "Just the Two of Us" sung by Bill Withers, but it is the five instrumental tracks that find Washington Jr. (on soprano, alto and tenor) really stretching out. First rate accompaniment throughout the sublime 6-song set comes courtesy of percussionist Ralph MacDonald and the incomparable Steve Gadd (drums) and Eric Gale (guitar). Colored 180g vinyl LP reissue from Friday Music.