This is the second album of The Jamaica Boys - a Queens based funk trio. Although marketed in rap circles, The Jamaica Boys were really more of a fusion trio with composer/multi-instrumentalist Marcus Miller, drummer Lenny White, and singer Mark Stevens combining forces. They made pleasant music, and occasionally Miller would come up with an inspired riff. But the most distinctive thing about this album in retrospect was the fact that Stevens was Chaka Khan's brother.

This album has a good R&B edge to it on the first 4 tracks and then some solid fusion efforts in the vein of other Valentin albums. Worth it purely for the version of Clove and Cinnamon alone as a jazz funk classic!!

Smooth-ass jazz-funk courtesy of American-Latin flautist Dave Valentin. Great album originally released on GRP . If you like Tom Browne, Don Blackman etc then add this to your collection. Funky flute all the way through! Valentin beat the Ohio Players at their own game with that cover art too.

Al Jarreau and George Duke were friends long before they became household names. They began playing together in the mid-1960's in San Francisco as Al Jarreau and the George Duke Trio. The successes of these performances are what helped to launch both their careers. George's tragic passing in August, 2013, inspired Al to record this loving tribute to his longtime friend. With the exception of the fitting title track composed by Jarreau, all the tunes were written by George. Guest artists/collaborators include Gerald Albright, Stanley Clarke, Dr. John, Lalah Hathaway, Boney James, Marcus Miller, Jeffrey Osborne, Kelly Price, Dianne Reeves and Patrice Rushen. There's even a song with George Duke playing on it!

Grover Washington Jr. (December 12, 1943 – December 17, 1999) was an American jazz-funk / soul-jazz saxophonist. Along with George Benson, John Klemmer, David Sanborn, Bob James, Chuck Mangione, Dave Grusin, Herb Alpert, and Spyro Gyra, he is considered by many to be one of the founders of the smooth jazz genre. He wrote some of his material and later became an arranger and producer.

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.

Seven years after his last solo project, Wayne Shorter returns with HIGH LIFE, which proceeds from the point where ATLANTIS, PHANTOM NAVIGATOR and JOY RIDER left off. With the assistance of master bassist-producer Marcus Miller and keyboardist Rachel Z., Shorter has fashioned a sumptuous series of harmonically detailed tone poems, anchored by the contemporary rhythm-n-ning of former Living Colour drummer Will Calhoun.HIGH LIFE won the 1997 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Performance.

Sanborn's '83 release brought a new meaning to late night or midnight music listening ! By no means is this elevator muzak, either ! In fact, Sanborn was on the cutting edge in using drum machines and synthesizer arrangements without stifling his sax playing or throwing the whole project out of whack. Sanborn's playing is very upfront and sharp ! While the recording may sound dated, it is only in a very good positive way to demonstrate what is lacking in some of today's so-called pop-jazz or r & b instrumentalists.

Bass great Marcus Miller brings the influence of modern urban music to his trademark sound on his highly-anticipated, genre-defying new album Laid Black, which will be released June 1 on Blue Note Records. It’s been three years since Miller’s last album, Afrodeezia, which The New York Times called “vibrant and expressive… music that frames his playing beautifully.” Miller says: “Afrodeezia was like a musical voyage through my history. I followed the journey of my ancestors by collaborating with musicians along the African Slave route – musicians from West Africa, North Africa, South America and the Caribbean. With Laid Black, I decided to bring the music right up to the present - using elements from what’s happening in urban music today. So you’ll hear hip-hop, trap, soul, funk, R&B and jazz on this album.

Multi-talented Marcus Miller's debut Suddenly was issued in the spring of 1983 on Patrick Rains' PRA Records label through Warner Bros. Miller shared production chores with Ray Bardani and Michael Colina, whom he'd worked with before on sides for David Sanborn. It's a tasty showcase for the bassist/songwriter/vocalist/producer who went from New York session stardom to mega-stardom with his frequent collaborator Luther Vandross. Vandross does vocals on "Lovin' You," "Just for You," and the squishy "Be My Love."