Don Grusin - Raven (1990)

(U.S  1975 - Present)
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The younger brother of producer/composer Dave Grusin, Don Grusin is an excellent keyboardist who has had his own solo career. He originally avoided music (not wanting to be in his brother's shadow), becoming an economics professor and not becoming a full-time musician until 1975. At that time, he put together a band to tour Japan with Quincy Jones, freelanced in Los Angeles, and headed the group Friendship which recorded for Elektra in 1978. Grusin recorded a few albums for JVC in the early '80s; and in 1988, with Sticks and Stones (a collaboration with brother Dave), Don Grusin began recording regularly for the record company GRP, playing music that (although influenced by pop) is also somewhat adventurous within the crossover genre.

Don Grusin

During the '80s, Grusin performed with and/or produced albums for a wide array of artists including saxophonist Watts (on the 1985 Grammy-winning Musician), Brazilian singer/songwriter Milton Nascimento, pianist David Benoit, and Patti Austin, Sergio Mendes, Oscar Castro-Neves, Zoot Sims, Dori Caymmi, Sadao Watanabe, Frank Quintero, Brenda Russell, Gerald Albright, Nelson Rangell, Jim Hall, Gilberto Gil, Flora Purim, Airto, Larry Carlton, Lee Ritenour, Leon Ware, and many others. On his own, Grusin has recorded for several labels, most notably GRP, releasing such albums as 1990's Raven (featured here), 1991's Zephyr, 1992's No Borders, 1993's Native Land, and 1994's Banana Fish.

Grusin received a Grammy nomination for his 2004 live album The Hang, and played keyboards on Paul Winter's 2008 Grammy-winning album Crestone. Grusin continues to perform, record and produce music internationally and also teaches a multidisciplinary course at the ATLAS Institue at the University of Colorado. He released the solo album Piano in Venice on JVC in 2008.
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Album Review
As he proved in his production of David Benoit's 1989 smash Urban Daydreams, Don Grusin is a master at texturing various synth textures with the acoustic piano. On his solo debut 'Raven', Grusin once again does a remarkable job of this, mixing up his styles along the way to include bits and pieces of funk, Brazilian and mainstream jazz, along with healthy doses of the obligatory pop jazz formulas. Though the ballads here, such as "Oracle," are likable, Grusin the player is most at home on funky and frisky numbers like the stealthy "Catwalk," which features some tasty acoustic improvisations layered sparingly amidst a contagious synth groove. The best cut is another funkfest, "Graffiti Bird," which features the very punchy solo chops of saxman Eric Marienthal. The horns of Gary Herbig, Gary Grant, and Jerry Hey brass up this cut, as well as the softer line of "Light in the Window," while Sal Marquez's trumpet (which added so much to The Fabulous Baker Boys) adds a mainstream touch to songs like the title cut. The Brazilian vocalizing by Djavan makes "Two Lives" a memorable experience as well. And let's not forget kudos for the solid back beat by bassist Flim Johnson and skinmaster Tommy Brechtlein. GRP was the smooth jazz mecca for many years, but once in a while the label released a project like this which added a lot of twists to the tried and true.

My favourite tracks are "Flight Of The Raven" and "Catwalk" and everything in between - this is a great album! I like Don's style of playing. He is a bit more percussive a player than his older brother Dave, but is still very melodic. Don also uses a battery of acoustic and electronics keys. This is a great introduction to Don Gusin as a stand alone artist.

GRP
In 1976, Grusin/Rosen Productions was formed by composer, arranger, producer, keyboardist Dave Grusin, and entrepreneur, musician, producer, recording engineer, Larry Rosen. The purpose of the Company was to produce recording artists for major record labels, and discover, sign, and produce new artists for Grusin/Rosen Productions, and release the resulting albums through major record distribution systems.

The partners began their long list of successes with albums for artists Jon Lucien, Patti Austin, Lee Ritenour, Noel Pointer, and Earl Klugh. In 1978, the Grusin/Rosen team signed a multi-year label deal with Arista Records president Clive Davis. Under the logo Arista/GRP, Grusin and Rosen discovered signed, produced, recorded, and launched the careers of Angela Bofill, Dave Valentin, Tom Browne, Bernard Wright, Jay Hoggard, Scott Jarrett, and produced and recorded the first totally non-classical digitally recorded album, Dave Grusin's "Mountain Dance."

Grusin and Rosen gained immediate success with music fans bringing sales of Tom Browne's hit "Funkin' for Jamaica" to over 1 million units, and Angela Bofill's sales to over 500,000 units, while playing a pioneering roll in the music industry by leading the way to the digital storage of audio products.

Don Grusin

In 1982, the duo launched GRP Records, known as the "Digital Master Company," as an independent label adopting an "all digital" recording philosophy being the first in America to record and release all titles on compact disc. GRP went on to become Billboard magazine's #1 contemporary jazz label worldwide for five consecutive years and its artists were nominated for over 80 Grammy Awards. GRP's artist roster included Chick Corea, Lee Ritenour, Diane Schuur, Patti Austin, Dr. John, Dave Grusin, Spyra Gyra, The Rippingtons, David Benoit, Tom Scott, Gary Burton, B.B. King, Ramsey Lewis, Sergio Salvatore, Dave Valentin, Arturo Sandoval, Diana Krall, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Yellowjackets, Don Grusin, Kevin Eubanks, GRP All-Star Big Band, and many more.

In 1990, Grusin and Rosen sold GRP Records to the Universal Music Group. From 1990 to 1995 Grusin continued to record for the label and Rosen continued as president and CEO of GRP Records.[extract from the Larry Rosen's Website]

This post consists of MP3 (320kps) ripped from my CD copy and includes full album artwork for both CD / Vinyl. I'm a big fan of Jazz Rock / Fusion (ie. Mahivishna Orchestra, Al Di Meola, Jan Hammer, Weather Report, Lee Ritenour to list a few) and this album fits in nicely with these artists.
If you enjoy this album, then take a look at a release by his brother and others called GRP Live in Session, also posted on my blog

Track Listing

01. Flight Of The Raven (4:34)
02. Two Lives (4:30)
03. Hip Hop Be Bop ( 5:41)
04. Oracle (6:01)
05. Outback Oasis (5:27)
06. Light In The Window (4:32)
07. Zuma Noon (5:32)
08. Um Beijo (A Kiss) (5:10)
09. Graffiti-Bird (4:23)
10. Highline (4:14) *
11. Catwalk (5:28)

* CD release only

Don Grusin (vocals, piano, synthesizer) 

Djavan, Jim Gilstrap, Kate Markowitz, Marilyn Scott (vocals) 

Ricardo Silveira (guitar)

Gary Herbig (flute, saxophone) 

Gary Grant (alto flute, trumpet, flugelhorn) 

Eric Marienthal (soprano saxophone, alto saxophone) 

Jerry Hey (trumpet, flugelhorn) 

Sal Marquez (trumpet) 

Tom Brechtlein (drums)

Don Grusin Link (106Mb) New Link 22/12/2022

GRP - Live In Session (1985)

(U.S - 1985)
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On August 14, 1985, a concert of GRP artists was held in the big room at the Record Plant in Los Angeles. It was recorded for both audio and video release. The lineup was Dave Grusin (keyboards), Lee Ritenour (guitar), Dianne Schuur (vocals), Dave Valentin (flute), Ivan Lins (keyboards, vocals), Larry Williams (keyboards, sax), Abraham Laboriel (bass), and Carlos Vega (drums). A special guest, Phil Perry, was brought in to sing on Lee Ritenour's "Countdown" at the end of the show.

This single concert was released to the public in several variations - none of them complete. There was an Vinyl record (see this post) and a CD called "GRP Live in Session" and a video called "GRP Live in Session", with identical covers but different tracks. Then there were two releases under the names "GRP All-Stars Live from the Record Plant" and "Dave Grusin & Lee Ritenour Live at the Record Plant"; those are the two DVD's in this set, and between them, you end up with the whole show, although it's chopped up and resequenced. See the youtube link:

I've been hoping for years that there would be a single release of the entire show, end to end and in original sequence, but I've stopped holding my breath. Still, with this post, you can experience a rare combination of incredible talent, inspired performances, and exquisite sound & video quality.
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Album Review
Not just an album exhibiting jazz stars doing their party pieces, “Live In Session” is the culmination of  a lengthy tour crossing both Europe and the United States. Cut at The famous Record Plant in Los Angeles in the summer of 1985, it offers a perfect documentation of what GRP was all about.

Inspired by the highly successful  "Harlequin" album,  the group of GRP headliners had returned from a number of JVC Jazz Festival dates in the US, and then swung across Europe, appearing at the North Sea Jazz Festival, Pori Festival, Montreux and Nice as well.  This was followed by a number of concerts in California - including one at the Hollywood Bowl - before they came into the recording studio together.

“Live In Session” is the documentation of the magical sort of interaction individual  jazz performers can achieve after this much time together - perfect spontaneity matched with perfect understanding of one another.

The record opens with something very exceptional.  For devotees of  the exhilarating “Mountain Dance” (and that must include 100% of Dave Grusin's devoted fans plus many more), here is a chance to hear the composer playing a new interpretation of the piece live.

Flutist Dave Valentin is featured next on the tasty “Oasis,” which is full of the energy and charm he infuses into all his performances, with standout solos by the rest of the group.  Lee Ritenour follows with his guitar tour de force “The Rit Variations” with Larry Williams complementing him at the keyboard.

Diane Schuur, who can reach you at the deepest  places of the heart when singing a love song, really turns on her power to mesmerize when she relates the story of “Reverend Lee.”

What a complete reversal of mood is then achieved when Lee Ritenour picks up the synthaxe to evoke “Dolphin Dreams.” Backed by Larry Williams, this time on saxophone, the atmosphere is at first reverent, then intense, making one almost wonder if these are all real dolphins materialized into humans for the day.

It's back to a Lee Ritenour staple, the Brazilian fusion spellbinder “Rio Funk” next, and the entire group rocks.

The album concludes - obviously leaving you wanting more - with Dave Grusin's theme from the TV series “St. Elsewhere.”  And you ask yourself, how can a piece so obviously crafted to be a functional creation, nevertheless engulf you like the best jazz does.  Performed live, it sparkles all the more.  [extract from Dave Grusin's Website]
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This post consists of MP3's (320kps) ripped from my pristine, near mint vinyl copy and includes full album artwork for both vinyl and CD. (Note: Some copies exist that are pressed in translucent black vinyl - sadly mine isn't one of these). I've always loved Lee Ritenour's guitar playing, ever since I purchased his Captain Fingers album back in the 70's and have placed him in my top 10 guitar players of all time, along with Al Di Meola and Jan Akkerman.  This is Jazz Fusion at its best - enjoy.
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Track Listing  
01  -   Mountain Dance   6:11
02  -   Oasis   7:25
03  -  The Rit Variations   6:24
04  -   Reverend Lee   4:55
05  -   Dolphin Dreams  6:33
06  -   Rio Funk   6:08
07  -   St. Elsewhere   4:25

GRP were:

Electric Guitar, Synthesizer [Synthaxe] – Lee Ritenour
Piano, Keyboards, Synthesizer – Dave GrusinVocals – Diane Schuur
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums – Carlos Vega
Flute – Dave Valentin
Keyboards, Tenor Saxophone – Larry Williams
Produced by Lee Ritenour for Captain Fingers Productions

GRP Live In Session Link (100Mb)