It’s been 25 years since we lost the immense talent that was GROVER WASHINGTON JR. To mark the sad occasion, Lightyear Entertainment will be issuing a new album on the garlanded sax man. However, ‘Grover Live Vol. 2’, of course, isn’t actually “new” music. It’s an archive, live set. .
The release follows the same label’s ‘Volume 1’ which was released in 2010 featuring live recordings from a performance at Peekskill, New York in June of 1997. This new volume features music recorded in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1998. It’s 95 minutes long, and features 6 songs that were not previously featured on the other Grover Live recordings.
The band on this recording is Grover himself on tenor, soprano, alto, and baritone sax with Donald Robinson on keyboards, Gerald Veasley on bass, Richard Lee Steacker on guitars, Richie Morales on drums, and Pablo Batista on congas and percussion. It was produced by Grammy winner Jason Miles.
The album is a 12 tracker and delivers plenty of favourites like ‘Mister Magic’ and Grover’s electric version of the always lovely ‘Soulful Strut’. Maybe the set highlight is a 16 minute plus “medley” – see how many tunes you can name!
GROVER WASHINGTON JR Grover Live Vol. 2’ is released via Lightyear Entertainment on September 13th.
