A singer with a distinctive musical sensibility rooted in soul, funk, and jazz, yet infused with Latin and Brazilian elements, Jon Lucien was also known for his warm baritone voice, often described as a softer take on Gil Scott-Heron. He passed away on this day in 2007, at the age of 65.
The album chosen here in his memory is his fifth release, the 1976 album “Premonition.” Production was handled by Lucien himself, together with Larry Rosen, who had carried over from “Rashida.” The lineup of musicians is nothing short of spectacular: Steve Gadd on drums, Chuck Rainey on bass, guitars by Wah Wah Watson, Ray Parker Jr., David T. Walker, with contributions from Jerome Richardson, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ralph MacDonald, and vocals by Phyllis Hyman, among many others—an astonishingly all-star cast.
The album opens with a cover of Bill Withers’ “Hello Like Before,” whose vocal tone feels closely aligned with Lucien’s own. For listeners who came of age during the Club Jazz boom, this record is inseparable from that track—the one famously used at the opening of U.F.O.’s “Moondance” (A4). Other highlights include B1, where an irregular beat intertwines with funky electric piano and horns, and B3, arguably the album’s centerpiece: a sublime rare-groove gem later covered by Mike Campbell (and also by Kemeko). With its rich variety of styles and beautifully balanced sequencing, this is a truly fine album. And with that, we offer our respects.
SOUL, FUNK,
JAZZを核としながら
LATIN, BRASILのエッセンスを取り入れた独特の楽曲センスに、ギル・スコット・へロンを柔らかくした様なバリトン・ヴォイスが印象的なシンガー、
ジョン・ルシアン。2007年の本日亡くなったそうです。享年65歳。
故人を偲ぶ一枚は、76年にリリースされた通算5枚目のアルバム「プリモニション」(予感)
プロデュースは自身と
「ラシーダ」から引継ぎの
ラリー・ローゼン。ミュージシャンはドラムで
スティーブ・ガッド、ベースでチャック・レイニー、ギターは
ワウ・ワウ・ワトソンに
レイ・パーカー、
デイヴィッド・T・ウォーカー、
ジェローム・リチャードソン、ウェイン・ショーター、
ハービー・ハンコック、
ラルフ・マクドナルド、ヴォーカルでは
フィリス・ハイマン等々、それはそれは豪華なメンバーが参加しています。
声の雰囲気も遠からずの
ビル・ウィザース「Hello Like Before」カヴァーにはじまり、青春時代がCLUB JAZZ全盛期だった貴兄はこのレコードと言えばあの曲が入ってる的な、
U.F.O.「Moondance」の冒頭で使われたA4「Mi Vita」, 変則ビートにファンキーなエレピ&ホーンが絡むB1, 本作の本命と言って差し支えないであろう、後に
マイク・キャンベルもカヴァーした(
ケメコさんも)極上レアグルーヴ・チューンのB3「And It All Goes Round And Round」等、バラエティに富んだ楽曲をバランス良く収録した好盤です。そして合掌。
Jon Lucien – Premonition '76 ColumbiaA1.
Hello Like BeforeA2.
If I CouldA3.
Spring's ArrivalA4.
Mi VidaA5. Laura
B1.
GakuB2.
You Been Away Too LongB3.
And It All Goes Round And RoundB4.
Child Of LoveCredit;
Backing Vocals – Phyllis Hyman
Bass – Jon Lucien, Russell Taylor
Concertmaster – Elliott Fisher, Norman Carr
Congas – Steve Thorton
Drums – Harold Mason, Steve Gadd
Electric Guitar – David T. Walker, Ray Parker, Wah Wah Watson
Flute – Jerome Richardson, Louise Ditallio
French Horn – Earl Chapin, Jim Buffington, Peter Gordon,
Robert Johnson
Harp – Dorothy Ashby, Gloria Agostini
Management – The Tentmakers Corp.
Mastered By – Bernie Grundman
Percussion – Dave Carey, Ralph MacDonald
Photography By [Inner Sleeve] – Leroy Brooks
Piano – Herbie Hancock, Mike Woford
Producer – Jon Lucien, Larry Rosen (A2 to B1)
Remix – Pete Romano (A2 to B1), Steve Hodge (A1, B2 to B4)
Remix [Assistant] – Beverly Jones, Chuck Tremell, Hellen Silvani,
Steve Hartz
Soprano Saxophone – Wayne Shorter
Trombone – Britt Woodman, Ed Kusby, Garnett Brown,
Maurice Spears, Urbie Green, Wayne Andre
Trumpet – Albert Aarons, Bobby Bryant, Bert Collins, Dalton Smith,
Fred Jackson Jr., Jack Nimitz, Joe Shepley, Oscar Brashear
Woodwind – Jerry Dodgion, Ken Berger, Bobby Keller (A3, A5, B1)
- その他のジョン・ルシアン作品 -・
Jon Lucien「Rashida」('73 RCA Victor)
