Monday, May 25, 2009

Patrice Rushen: Pizzazz

















While walking around in Brooklyn, showing my visiting cousin around the city, I stopped at one of the many tables of people selling records.  Looking through this guy's collection and thinking his price for a Joe Pass album was more than I wanted to pay I happened upon a copy of Patrice Rushen's 1979 release Pizzazz.  Though I am relatively unfamiliar with her catalog, I had heard a few songs by her and knew of her talent as a musician and it was worth five dollars to me to check it out... and I did.  Much to my joy this record turned out to be, what I will call, "an uplifting parade of soul".  Though trained in jazz, in this album Rushen is able to deftly maneuver a more pop sound.  Between the vocal and orchestral arrangements what is found is a sound that blends aspects of everything from Parliament to the Talking Heads to create a sound that is both soulful and oh so utterly retro-fun.
I hope you enjoy.


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