I'm always a bit stumped when I go through the online auction platforms and my local record dealers offerings to dig for Grover Washington albums as it seems that his name stands almost exclusively for his 80's hit record "Winelight", despite
the gems that Washington made right from the start of his Career.
Soul Box appears to be the most ambitious one, judging from the big line-up (a long list of Cti-regulars +strings + horns).
"Aubrey" is a (slightly) short, sweet ballad with Washington in the spotlight. A wooden flute adds a nice touch.
"Masterpiece" is a stunning blaxploitation-style track with some Herbie Hancock style Clavinet by Richard Tee , an orchestration, a bass and a funky guitar (by Eric Gale) that would easily fit to a spy movie soundtrack. More than 13 minutes that are never boring.
"Trouble Man" is fairly similar but jazzier, more subtle and less funky (version of the blaxploitation soundtrack). I find the 15 minutes for this one a bit too long (especially if you listen to the entire album at once).
The reendition of Stevie Wonders "You're the sunshine of my live" is interesting as it changes back and forth from very smooth pop-parts to something more jazzy.
The same goes for "Don't explain", a Billy Holiday Tune. It's again rather lengthy and alternates between the usual dreamy Jazz-Pop and some more sophisticated parts (though far away from being as sophisticated as say, the Hubbard albums).
The "Easy Living/Ain't nobody's business if I do"-medley is difficult to categorize. Washington stays almost exclusively in the foreground (there's one other solo by Eric Gale), the rythm section stays in the background. It mixes an uptempo part with lengthy, slow and dreamy (for which the orchestra is responisble) parts.
The last song, "Taurian Matador" is a bit odd. Billy Cobham adds complex drums (Idris Muhammdad plays on the other tracks), the keyboard solo let the scene sound a bit as if someone is chased by a criminal in a crime movie before Washington brings it back to something more Jazz-like. Tough stuff, definitely not comparable to the other songs on the album and to what most listeners have in mind when they hear the name Grover Washington.
The record definitely needs close listening. It's far too good to hear it as some nice muzak that you can listen to while you're dusting off your vinyl collection.
