Best Is Yet To Come

by Grover Washington Jr.

Product Description:

Personnel includes: Grover Washington, Jr. (saxophone); Patti LaBelle, Carla Benson, Evette Benton, Lucille Jones (vocals); Jon Faddis, Frank Wess, Alex Foster (horns); Mona Goldman-Yoskin (flute); Billy Childs (piano, synthesizer); James Lloyd (piano); Richard Tee, Teddi Schlossman (Fender Rhodes piano); Paul Griffin, Dexter Wansel (synthesizer); Eric Gale, Richard Steacker, Lee Ritenour (guitar); Marcus Miller, Cedric Napoleon (bass); Yogi Horton, Darryl Washington (drums); Ralph MacDonald, Leonard Gibbs (percussion).

Grover Washington, Jr. was a gifted jazz saxophonist who found his niche in a style of music that evolved in the 1980s called smooth jazz. He was one of the founders (along with David Sanborn) of this slick, funky, poppy style of jazz, Washington's albums continue to sell in impressive numbers even after his untimely death in 1999.

THE BEST IS YET TO COME is what one has come to expect from the saxophonist. This music is polished, streamlined, passionate, and soulful. Washington is in prime form on this 1982 outing, and his solos float effortlessly over the funky rhythm section. Wonderful vocal performances are also delivered courtesy Patti LaBelle on the title track and Bobby McFerrin on "Things Are Getting Better," and McFerrin even scat sings on the latter. THE BEST IS YET TO COME is one of the best of its kind.