''Paradise'' is the eighth studio album by

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

musician A musician is someone who Composer, composes, Conducting, conducts, or Performing arts#Performers, performs music. According to the United States Employment Service, "musician" is a general Terminology, term used to designate a person who fol ...

Grover Washington Jr. Grover Washington Jr. (December 12, 1943 – December 17, 1999) was an American jazz-funk and soul-jazz saxophonist and Grammy Award winner. Along with Wes Montgomery and George Benson, he is considered by many to be one of the founders and le ...

Released in 1979, it was Washington's first album on

Elektra Records Elektra Records (or Elektra Entertainment) is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, founded in 1950 by Jac Holzman and Paul Rickolt. It played an important role in the development of contemporary folk and rock music between the ...

Critical reception

The ''

Bay State Banner ''The Bay State Banner'' is a weekly newspaper primarily geared toward the readership interests of the African-American community in Boston, Massachusetts. Distributed free of charge, it was founded in 1965 by Melvin B. Miller, who remained the ...

'' wrote that "Washington has let the abysmal vocalists go and gone back to robust, rough alto and soprano sax blowing."

Track listing

All tracks composed by Grover Washington Jr.; except where indicated. #"Paradise" (John Blake) - 7:55 #"Icey" (Millard Vinson) - 3:48 #"The Answer in Your Eyes" (Washington, Richard Steacker) - 8:24 #"Asia's Theme" (James Simmons) - 5:03 #"Shana" - 5:06 #"Tell Me About It Now" - 5:27 #"Feel It Comin'" (Richard Steacker) - 5:15

Personnel

* Grover Washington Jr. – soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, flute, arrangements (3, 5, 6, 7), electric piano (7) * James "Sid" Simmons – acoustic piano, electric piano, arrangements (2, 4) * Richard Lee Steacker – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, arrangements (3) * Tyrone Brown – acoustic bass, electric bass * Millard "Pete" Vinson – drums,

Syndrum The Pollard Syndrum is the first commercially available electronic drum, invented by Joe Pollard and Mark Barton in 1976. There were 3 major types: The Syndrum 1, the Syndrum TwinDrum, and the Syndrum Quad, the last being the most famous. At the ...

s * Leonard "Doc" Gibbs – assorted percussions * John Blake Jr. – violin, arrangements (1)

Production

* Grover Washington, Jr. – producer * Fred Galletti – engineer * Al Alberts, Jr. – assistant engineer * Frank Bernardini – assistant engineer * Mike Bonghi – assistant engineer * Jerry Williamson – assistant engineer *

Rudy Van Gelder Rudolph Van Gelder (November 2, 1924 – August 25, 2016) was an American recording engineer who specialized in jazz. Over more than half a century, he recorded several thousand sessions, with musicians including Booker Ervin, John Coltrane, Mil ...

– mastering at Van Gelder Studios (Englewood Cliffs, NJ). * Ron Coro – art direction * Johnny Lee – art direction * John Collier – illustration * Paul Wilson – photography

Charts

Singles

References

External links

Grover Washington Jr. – Paradise at Discogs
{{Authority control 1979 albums Grover Washington Jr. albums Elektra Records albums