Patrick Williams - Come On And Shine (2015) [Hi-Res]

„Come On And Shine“ ranks among Patrick Williams’ very best; a hidden gem, brimming over with interesting originals (except the covers of “Bob Newhart Theme,” the TV show Williams was scoring at the time, and MPS owner Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer’s “Blue Light”) and some terrific soloists distinctively making ideal musical statements.

It was also the first of the bandleader’s album where he was billed as “Patrick Williams,” the name he goes by today. Half of Come On And Shine was recorded in New York City during 1977 (“Come On And Shine,” “One For My Three,” “And We Will Love Again,” “The Late Night Wizard”) and the other half was recorded in Los Angeles (“Lou Grant Theme,” “Sail On,” “Bob Newhart Theme,” Barrio,” “Blue Light”).

The album was issued as Come On And Shine on the German MPS label in 1978 and as the bizarrely generic Theme (probably due to the inclusion of the “theme” to two TV shows Williams was actively engaged in at the time) on the American Pausa label. In either case, the album has long been out of print and one of the scarcest of all of Williams’ records. Not necessarily as grand in intent or execution as the previous Threshold, Come On And Shine shows what Williams could have done on his Verve albums given half the chance. The groove-laden title track features Dave Grusin comping on electric piano, Ronnie Cuber on baritone sax and was included recently (at my suggestion) on Universal’s recent Disco Jazz compilation. The scandalously brief ballad “One for My Three” features trumpeter Marvin Stamm, tenor saxist Lou Marini and alto saxist Gerry Niewood. “Lou Grant Theme” (which Williams would also include as “Lou’s Blues” as part of his 1983 album Dreams & Themes with Tom Scott taking the lead) features Jerome Richardson on alto sax. The beautiful “And We Will Love Again” features guitarist Steve Kahn, the immediately identifiable Dave Grusin (comping on electric piano and soloing on acoustic piano) and the harmonica of Toots Thielemanns, who also solos on the clever big-band funk of “The Late Night Wizzard.” The gospel funk of “Sail On” showcases Steve Khan on electric guitar while the surprisingly funked-up take on “Bob Newhart” theme spotlights Sonny Burke on electric piano. The moody “Barrio,” which, like “Blue Light” features the great tenor sax of Pete Christlieb, is surely from one of Williams’ TV or film productions (probably Lou Grant) and is one of the album’s strongest tracks. (Doug Payne, Sound Insights)

Lew Soloff, trumpet
Ron Cuber, baritone saxophone
Dave Grusin, keyboards
Steve Khan, guitar
Toots Thielemans, harmonica
Tony Levin, bass
Grady Tate, drums

Recorded 1977 at A&R Recording, New York and United-Western Studios, Los Angeles
Engineered by Glenn Berger
Produced by Patrick Williams, Peter Scott

Digitally remastered