This column is a partnership with Record Bar 45 Yokohama, a bona-fide record bar with excellent vinyl DJs and a supporter of NPO Yokohama Seasider. Here, we check out their Instagram (@recordbar45yokohama) to see what they’ve been playing, then write about one of the artists and/or albums—we’re DJs/musicians ourselves!
Grover Washington, Jr. (1943-1999) knew how to soothe and excite alike with his saxophones. He enriched the traditions of soul, jazz, funk, and R&B, but is perhaps best known for driving the smooth jazz genre to worldwide popularity. Between his debut work in 1972 and a posthumous release in 2000, he recorded twenty-five albums, more than half of them peaking at #1 on the U.S. jazz charts. His 1980 release, Winelight, even rose to #5 on the Billboard 200 (most popular songs in the U.S.).
1975, however, felt like an extra-special year. He released his fourth and fifth albums, Mister Magic and Feels So Good, both of which reached #1 on the R&B and Jazz charts, and #10 on the Billboard 200. Mister Magic and its title song became widely popular and are classics of American jazz-R&B. Fifty years later, you’ll often hear the song Mister Magic performed (including in Japan), the sax melodies rising with warmth above a catchy guitar lick.
The four-song album running 32:51 is generally described by music critics as more commercial than experimental, but it’s not lacking in creativity by any means. It generally features inviting sound and is, at times, almost cheerfully danceable. Like other albums of the 1970s, there was a string section, too; while not universally popular, it certainly adds texture.
It’s an album to put you in a good mood, especially with a good drink as smooth as the music.