''Paradise'' is an

album An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

musician A musician is a person who composes, conducts, or performs music. According to the United States Employment Service, "musician" is a general term used to designate one who follows music as a profession. Musicians include songwriters who wri ...

Grover Washington Jr. Grover Washington Jr. (December 12, 1943 – December 17, 1999) was an American jazz-funk and soul-jazz saxophonist. Along with Wes Montgomery and George Benson, he is considered by many to be one of the founders of the smooth jazz genre. He wr ...

Released in 1979, it was Washington's first album on

Elektra Records Elektra Records (or Elektra Entertainment) is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, founded in 1950 by Jac Holzman and Paul Rickolt. It played an important role in the development of contemporary folk and rock music between the 1 ...

Critical reception

The '' Bay State Banner'' wrote that "Washington has let the abysmal vocalists go and gone back to robust, rough alto and soprano sax blowing."

Track listing

All tracks composed by Grover Washington Jr.; except where indicated. #"Paradise" (John Blake) - 7:55 #"Icey" (Millard Vinson) - 3:48 #"The Answer in Your Eyes" (Washington, Richard Steacker) - 8:24 #"Asia's Theme" (James Simmons) - 5:03 #"Shana" - 5:06 #"Tell Me About It Now" - 5:27 #"Feel It Comin'" (Richard Steacker) - 5:15

Personnel

* Grover Washington Jr. – soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, flute, arrangements (3, 5, 6, 7), electric piano (7) * James "Sid" Simmons – acoustic piano, electric piano, arrangements (2, 4) * Richard Lee Steacker – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, arrangements (3) * Tyrone Brown – acoustic bass, electric bass * Millard "Pete" Vinson – drums, Syndrums * Leonard "Doc" Gibbs – assorted percussions *

John Blake Jr. John Edward Blake Jr. (July 3, 1947 – August 15, 2014) was an American jazz violinist from South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. He performed most prominently as a sideman in groups led by Grover Washington Jr. (in the late 1970s) ...

– violin, arrangements (1)

Production

* Grover Washington, Jr. – producer * Fred Galletti – engineer * Al Alberts, Jr. – assistant engineer * Frank Bernardini – assistant engineer * Mike Bonghi – assistant engineer * Jerry Williamson – assistant engineer *

Rudy Van Gelder Rudolph Van Gelder (November 2, 1924 – August 25, 2016) was an American recording engineer who specialized in jazz. Over more than half a century, he recorded several thousand sessions, with musicians including John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Theloni ...

– mastering at

Van Gelder Studios A van is a type of road vehicle used for transporting goods or people. Depending on the type of van, it can be bigger or smaller than a pickup truck and SUV, and bigger than a common car. There is some varying in the scope of the word across th ...

(Englewood Cliffs, NJ). * Ron Coro – art direction * Johnny Lee – art direction * John Collier – illustration * Paul Wilson – photography

Charts

Singles

References

External links

Grover Washington Jr. – Paradise at Discogs
{{Authority control 1979 albums Grover Washington Jr. albums Elektra Records albums