In the ‘80’s, GRP was the place to be, the label you wanted to be on if you were a smooth/contemporary jazz artist.  The format was just starting to take off, and everyone who was anyone was on GRP.

This CD is the live recording of a concert held in Japan.  GRP was asked to put together a package tour featuring some of the artists on their label and bring that tour to Japan.  The result was an all star roster of musical talent: Dave Grusin, Lee Ritenour, Tom Scott, Diane Schuur, and Chick Corea & the Elektric Band.

The CD opens with vocalist Diane Schuur singing a song that would eventually become her signature piece, “Deedles Blues.”  She follows it up with “Love Dance,” and “Caught a Touch of Your love.”  Miss Schuur is a jazz singer, and as a jazz singer, she plays with the music, singing, scatting, and vocalizing.  This is most clearly displayed during “Love Dance.” 

The next group of songs features Dave Grusin and Lee Ritenour, two world class musicians who have collaborated often.  It’s a treat to hear them play together. From their Harlequin collaboration, they played “Early AM Attitude.”  This was followed by “The Sauce,” and “Water from the Moon/Earth Run.”  These songs are the heart and soul of Volume 1, and among my favorites of this live concert.  Because this is recorded live, you get to hear all of the audience reactions to the music and the musicians, like listening to the audience cheer as Grusin and Ritenour take the stage and begin playing. 

The final group of songs on Volume 1 brings saxophonist Tom Scott front and center.  He opens with “Target,” then moves on to the sultry ballad, “Goodbye for Kathy.”  Volume one concludes with Grusin, Ritenour, and Tom Scott in an extended version of “An Actor’s Life,” (from the film Tootsie.)  The crowd loves it.

The whole of Volume 2 is given to Chick Corea’s Elektric Band.  The Elektric Band is comprised of Dave Weckl (drums), John Patitucci (bass), Frank Gambale (guitar), and Eric Marienthal (saxophone.)  They open up with a bang, pulling no punches with their opening number. They end the song the same way, at full force.  The crowd is roaring by the end of the song. And this is only the overture!  We can only feel a fraction of what that audience felt during the concert.  It must have been amazing to feel all of that energy in person.  The Elektric Band keeps it going with “Time Track,” “No Zone,” and “Side Walk.”  They play several more songs before ending their concert with a high octane version of “Light Years.” The band completely goes for it on their final number.   

I don’t think this CD ever got much publicity when it released back in 1988.  I don’t recall hearing much about it then. I’m pretty sure I stumbled upon this CD while browsing through the jazz section of whatever music store I was in one day.  (Remember jazz sections?  Remember stores where one could go and buy music?)  I knew the name GRP.  I certainly knew the names Grusin, Ritenour, and Corea.  It seemed like a worthy investment at the time. How right I was!  This is vintage GRP; classic material.  It may or may not increase in value with age, but 21 years after its original release, it still sounds great.