Grover Washington Jr. is an American saxophonist who was very famous in 1967-1999. According to Robert Palmer (of Rolling Stone magazine), the performer was able to become "the most recognizable saxophonist working in the jazz fusion genre."
Although many critics accused Washington of being commercially oriented, listeners loved the compositions for their soothing and pastoral motifs with a touch of urban funk.
Grover has always surrounded himself with talented musicians, thanks to whom he has released successful albums and songs. Most Memorable Collaborations: Just the Two of Us (with Bill Withers), A Sacred Kind of Love (with Phyllis Hyman), The Best Is Yet to Come (with Patti LaBelle). Solo compositions were also very popular: Winelight, Mister Magic, Inner City Blues, etc.
Childhood and youth Grover Washington Jr.
Grover Washington was born December 12, 1943 in Buffalo, New York during World War II. Everyone in his family was a musician: his mother performed in the church choir; brother worked in the church choir as an organist; my father played the tenor saxophone professionally. Taking an example from their parents, the performer and his younger brother began to make music. Grover decided to follow in his father's footsteps and took up the saxophone. The brother became interested in playing the drums and later became a professional drummer.
In the book Jazz-Rock Fusion (Julian Coryell and Laura Friedman) there is a line where the saxophonist reminisces about his childhood:
“I started playing instruments at about 10 years old. My first love was undoubtedly classical music… My first lesson was saxophone, then I tried piano, drums and bass.”
Washington attended the Wurlitzer School of Music. Grover really liked the instruments. Therefore, he devoted almost all his free time to them in order to learn how to play at least at a basic level.
The first saxophone was presented by his father when the performer was 10 years old. Already at the age of 12, Washington began to seriously engage in playing the saxophone. Sometimes in the evenings he ran away from home and went to clubs to see the famous blues musicians in Buffalo. In addition, the boy was fond of basketball. However, due to the fact that his height was not enough for this sport, he decided to connect his life with musical activities.
At first, Grover performed only at concerts at school and for two years was a baritone saxophonist in the city's school orchestra. Periodically, he studied chords with renowned Buffalo musician Elvis Shepard. Washington graduated from high school at 16 and decided to move from his hometown of Columbus, Ohio. There he joined the Four Clefs, which began his professional musical career.
How did Grover Washington Jr.'s career develop?
Grover toured the States with the Four Clefs, but the band disbanded in 1963. For some time, the performer played in the Mark III Trio group. Due to the fact that Washington did not study anywhere, in 1965 he received a summons to the US Army. There he played in the officer's orchestra. In his spare time, he performed in Philadelphia, working with various organ trios and rock bands. In the army ensemble, the saxophonist met drummer Billy Cobham. After the service, he helped him become part of the musical environment in New York.
Washington's affairs improved - he performed in various musical groups, including Charles Erland, recorded joint compositions with famous performers (Melvin Sparks, Johnny Hammond, etc.). Grover's debut album Inner City Blues was released in 1971 and became an instant hit. The recordings were originally supposed to be owned by Hank Crawford. Commercially minded producer Creed Taylor put together a set of pop-funk tunes for him. However, the musician was arrested, and he could not perform them. Then Taylor called Grover to record and released a record under his name.
Washington once admitted to interviewers, "My big break was blind luck." However, he enjoyed great popularity thanks to the album Mister Magic. After his release, the saxophonist began to be invited to the best events in the country, he played with the main jazz musicians. In 1980, the performer released his cult record, thanks to which he received two Grammy awards. Moreover, Grover was awarded the title of "Best Instrumental Performer".
During his lifetime, a performer could release 2-3 albums in one year. Only between 1980 and 1999 10 records released. The best, according to critics, was the work of Soulful Strut (1996). Leo Stanley wrote of her, "Washington's instrumental skills once again cut through the brilliance, making Soulful Strut another worthy record for all soul jazz fans." After the death of the artist in 2000, his friends released the album Aria.
The musical style of Grover Washington Jr.
The popular saxophonist developed the so-called "jazz-pop" ("jazz-rock-fusion") musical style. It consists of jazz improvisation to a bouncy or rock beat. Much of the time, Washington was influenced by jazz artists such as John Coltrane, Joe Henderson, and Oliver Nelson. Nevertheless, Grover's wife was able to interest him in pop music.
“I advised him to listen to more pop music,” Christina told Rolling Stone magazine. "His intention was to play jazz, but he started listening to different genres and at one point he told me he just wanted to play what he felt like without labeling it." Washington stopped limiting himself to any beliefs and traditions, began to play modern music, "without worrying about styles and schools."
Critics were ambivalent about Washington's music. Some praised, others thought. The main complaint was made against the commercialism of the compositions. In a review of his album Skylarkin (1979), Frank John Hadley said that "if commercial jazz saxophonists had risen to monarchical positions, Grover Washington Jr. would have been their master."
The personal life of an artist
While performing at one of his overseas concerts, Grover met his future wife Christina. At the time, she was working as an assistant editor for a local publication. Christina fondly recalls the beginning of their relationship: "We met on Saturday, and on Thursday we began to live together." In 1967 they got married. After Washington's discharge from service, the couple moved to Philadelphia.
They had two children - daughter Shana Washington and son Grover Washington III. Little is known about the children's activities. Like his father and grandfather, Washington III decided to become a musician.
In 1999, the performer went to the set of The Saturday Early Show, where he performed four songs. After that, he went to the green room. While waiting to continue filming, he had a heart attack. Studio staff immediately called an ambulance, but upon arrival at the hospital, Washington was already dead. Doctors recorded the artist had a massive heart attack.
