Album of the Day

The warm tones of smooth jazz saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. were rarely more intoxicating than on 1980's WINELIGHT. Cut in New York City with co-producer Ralph MacDonald (who also provides percussion), the album frames Washington's mellifluous horn work with accompaniment from such musical talents as keyboardist Richard Tee, drummer Steve Gadd – and singer Bill Withers on the album's sole vocal track, “Just The Two Of Us,” which stopped just short of the top spot on the singles chart. The song, and the wonderfully melodic instrumentals surrounding it, lifted the collection into the Top 10 on the pop, jazz and soul album charts.  Grover Washington Jr. was born on this day in 1943, and we'll salute the performer with one of his very best, the Grammy-winning WINELIGHT.