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Grover Washington Jr. (December 12, 1943 – December 17, 1999) [1] [2] 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 legends of the smooth jazz genre. [ 3 ]
The Best Is Yet to Come is a 1982 studio album by American jazz musician Grover Washington Jr., released via the Elektra label. The album includes his major hit "The Best Is Yet to Come" recorded with Patti LaBelle.
It was released as a single in February 1983 on Washington's Elektra label. It became Washington's second biggest hit following the success of his Bill Withers duet, "Just the Two of Us", reaching number fourteen on the Billboard R&B singles chart and number four on the Billboard Hot 100's Bubbling Under chart.
It was Washington's only Top 40 hit. The song won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song. [6] Withers included the edited version on the 1981 compilation Bill Withers' Greatest Hits and many subsequent greatest hits collections. The song propelled Winelight's success, often credited for leading to the 1980s smooth jazz explosion. [7]
A reviewer of Dusty Groove noted 'Nothing too secret about this record – given that it was one of Grover Washington's biggest hits of the 70s, and for good reason too! The album features four long tracks – all stretched out and layered together with washes of funky, yet subtle sounds – in a perfect blend that let Washington really stretch ...
Grover Washington Jr. chronology; Inner City Blues (1972) All the King's Horses ... The title track was a cover of the recent hit by Marvin Gaye released in June 1971.
Leo Stanley of AllMusic wrote "Soulful Strut is a typically smooth and swinging date from Grover Washington, Jr. Occasionally, the production by Walter Afanasieff is too slick and commercial, diluting the impact of Washington's subtle, relaxed groove. Fortunately, Washington's instrumental skills cut through the gloss, making Soulful Strut ...
Scott Yanow of AllMusic wrote: "Although Grover Washington Jr. (on alto, tenor, soprano and baritone) puts on his usual strong effort, the forgettable material (which included no hits) and the emphasis on vocals (particularly those of Jon Lucien who is on five of the seven selections) makes this one of Washington's weaker efforts and the least essential of his four Elektra recordings.