Grover Washington, Jr. always put on exciting shows, and this performance from the Bijou Cafe in Philadelphia is a good example of his repertoire in 1977. It does not reach the heights of his best studio recordings or concerts, but there are some fine moments. Utilizing his octet of the time (with violinist
John Blake, keyboardist
James Simmons, and flutist
Leslie Burrs), this CD (a straight reissue of the original LP) mostly features
Washington playing lesser-known tunes that would not stay in his repertoire for long (other than a medley that includes "Mr. Magic"), but
Washington (heard on tenor, alto, and soprano) consistently uplifts the material.
–
Scott Yanow, Rovi