George Shaw – Flight 2201 (1985/2020)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 33:23 minutes | 417 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Numero Group
After spending the bulk of the ’70s as a hired gun for David Ruffin, Marvin Gaye, and The Temptations, George Shaw got a call from Palo Alto’s TBA label. The fledgling smooth jazz imprint was desperate to fill the void left by their golden child George Howard, who had just jumped ship for MCA Records.
Shaw’s first offering was 1985’s Flight 2201, an all-star affair featuring fellow TBAers Frank Potenza on guitar, Damon Rentie on sax, and Stanlet smith on drums. Jazz Crusader Wilton Felder plucked the bass and top-flight arranger Benjamin Wright sweetened the entire affair up with his glimmering keys work. The result is more Minneapolis synth funk than Palo Alto dentist jazz. “I never considered what we did smooth jazz,” Shaw reflected. “We were just playing songs we liked and everyone took solos here and there ‘cause they were all great players and could.”
Tracklist
1. George Shaw – Let’s Go Out Tonight
2. George Shaw – Love Is
3. George Shaw – Sugar Coated Baby
4. George Shaw – All Night Long
5. George Shaw – Jasmine
6. George Shaw – You Drive Me Crazy
7. George Shaw – You’re The Only One
8. George Shaw – Theme For Diane
Download: