Grover Washington, Jr.

This groovy collaboration between Washington and keyboardist/arranger Bob James became a huge 1970s instrumental album and even made the Top 10 pop charts. All the stereotypes of Me Decade music are here, including wa-wa guitars, echo-laden Rhodes keyboards and major hi-hat drum action, but it works. A highlight is the gorgeous reading of Strayhorn's "Passion Flower."

For the best-selling jazz album in the country, this is funktional enough. Washington plays a warm tenor in the pop jazz tradition of Gene Ammons, the rhythm section percolates danceably, and the result is sexy background music marred superficially by Bob James's strings. (Grade - B-)