Grover Washington, Jr.

The Profile

American jazz saxophonist and key figure in smooth jazz. Rose to prominence in the 1970s, blending soulful melodies with jazz-funk grooves. Landmark albums include Mister Magic (1975) and Winelight (1980), the latter featuring the hit "Just The Two Of Us" with Bill Withers. He died in 1999.

Primary instruments: tenor, alto, and soprano saxophones. Associated with smooth jazz’s rise; collaborated with artists including Bill Withers. Passed away in 1999 due to cardiac arrest.

Two reviews spotlight Grover Washington, Jr.’s pivotal albums: Mister Magic (1975) and Winelight (1980). Mister Magic is framed as a maturity milestone with Bob James’s standout arrangements and a jazz‑funk tilt. Winelight is praised as his masterpiece, sleek and melodic, featuring “Just The Two Of Us” with Bill Withers and top-tier session players like Marcus Miller and Steve Gadd. The pieces also reflect on the smooth jazz debate and note Washington’s death in 1999 from cardiac arrest.