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Top Contemporary Jazz Chart – October 12, 1991

John Hilderbrand — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 03:01:47 +0000

The October 1991 chart was packed with debuts and big names! The Rippingtons were back at #1 with Curves Ahead, their second consecutive chart-topper and one of five #1 contemporary jazz albums the group would eventually have. At #2 was Chick Corea Elektric Band’s Beneath the Mask, the final album of the original run featuring the classic lineup of Corea, John Patitucci, Dave Weckl, Eric Marienthal and Frank Gambale. The five wouldn’t record another Elektric Band album together until To the Stars in 2004.

The Manhattan Transfer went decidedly contemporary with The Offbeat of Avenues at #3. Jeff Lorber co-wrote and produced “10 Minutes Till the Savages Come,” David Pack and Michael McDonald helped write “A World Apart,” and Donald Fagen wrote “Confide in Me.” The album’s “Sassy” would go on to win the Grammy for Best Contemporary Jazz Performance. And check out the debuts: Fourplay’s self-titled first album was already at #6 on its way to #1. At #7 was Candy Dulfer’s debut, Saxuality. Dulfer had already scored an international crossover hit alongside Eurythmics’ David A, Stewart with the instrumental “Lily Was Here,” which reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100. Saxuality would reach #22 on the Billboard 200 and earn Dulfer a Grammy nomination. And at #11, saxophonist Warren Hill was beginning his career with his debut, Kiss Under the Moon.

Top Contemporary Jazz Albums

Week of October 12, 1991

#	Artist	Album
1	The Rippingtons featuring Russ Freeman	Curves Ahead	▶
2	Chick Corea Elektric Band	Beneath the Mask	▶
3	The Manhattan Transfer	The Offbeat of Avenues	▶
4	Béla Fleck & The Flecktones	Flight of the Cosmic Hippo	▶
5	Acoustic Alchemy	Back on the Case	▶
6	Fourplay	Fourplay	▶
7	Candy Dulfer	Saxuality	▶
8	Jean-Luc Ponty	Tchokola	▶
9	Kim Waters	Sax Appeal	▶
10	Al Di Meola	World Sinfonia	▶
11	Warren Hill	Kiss Under the Moon	▶
12	Mike Stern	Odds or Evens	▶
13	The Crusaders	Healing the Wounds	▶
14	Jon Lucien	Listen Love	▶
15	Michel Petrucciani	Playground	▶
16	Spyro Gyra	Collection	▶
17	Sadao Watanabe	Sweet Deal	▶
18	Eric Marienthal	Oasis	▶
19	Tony Guerrero	Another Day, Another Dream	▶
20	Bluesiana II	Bluesiana II	▶
21	Tuck & Patti	Dream	▶
22	Dotsero	Jubilee	▶
23	Phil Sheeran	Standing on Fishes	▶
24	Alex Bugnon	107 Degrees in the Shade	▶
25	Nestor Torres	Dance of the Phoenix	▶

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Top Contemporary Jazz Chart – July 2, 1994

John Hilderbrand — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 16:43:12 +0000

Tenderness from Al Jarreau was a live-in-the-studio recording that blended the intimacy of a concert performance with the polish of a studio album. Produced by Marcus Miller, the project featured an all-star cast including Joe Sample, David Sanborn, Michael Brecker, Patches Stewart, Steve Gadd, Eric Gale, and acclaimed soprano Kathleen Battle. The album found Jarreau revisiting classics such as “Try a Little Tenderness,” “Your Song,” “My Favorite Things,” “She’s Leaving Home,” and “Summertime,” while also including updated versions of his own compositions like “We Got By” and “Save Your Love for Me.” Tenderness may be one of the most relaxed and inspired recordings of Jarreau’s career, pairing his vocal agility with stellar talent and songs that gave him plenty of room to soar.

Top Contemporary Jazz Albums
Week of July 2, 1994

#	Artist	Album
1	Kenny G	Breathless	▶
2	David Sanborn	Hearsay	▶
3	Al Jarreau	Tenderness	▶
4	Norman Brown	After the Storm	▶
5	John Tesh Project	Sax by the Fire	▶
6	The Benoit/Freeman Project	The Benoit/Freeman Project	▶
7	Boney James	Backbone	▶
8	Incognito	Positivity	▶
9	Nancy Wilson	Love, Nancy	▶
10	Paul Hardcastle	Hardcastle	▶
11	Gerald Albright	Smooth	▶
12	Bob James	Restless	▶
13	Patti Austin	That Secret Place	▶
14	Fourplay	Between the Sheets	▶
15	Dave Koz	Lucky Man	▶
16	Marion Meadows	Forbidden Fruit	▶
17	Gil Scott-Heron	Spirits	▶
18	Candy Dulfer	Sax-A-Go-Go	▶
19	Ronny Jordan	The Quiet Revolution	▶
20	Stanley Clarke	East River Drive	▶
21	Carl Anderson	Heavy Weather Sunlight Again	▶
22	Tom Scott	Reed My Lips	▶
23	Joe McBride	A Gift for Tomorrow	▶
24	Yellowjackets	Run for Your Life	▶
25	Nelson Rangell	Yes, Then Yes	▶

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Top Contemporary Jazz Chart – June 22, 1991

John Hilderbrand — Sat, 23 May 2026 13:04:18 +0000

The Crusaders, down to just original members Joe Sample and Wilton Felder, released their penultimate recording Healing the Wounds in April 1991. It hit the top of the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart on June 22, 1991. The album was produced by Marcus Miller, who also wrote two of the tracks. One of those is “Maputo” originally recorded by Bob James and David Sanborn on their iconic Double Vision collaboration. Sample wrote four of the eight songs including a couple of gems: the strong opening “Pessimisticism” and “Little Things Mean a Lot”. Sample (often feisty) and Felder are in great form and Miller really puts his stamp on the album with his bass playing and production. This may be an overlooked contemporary jazz recording but it’s a favorite of mine.

Top Contemporary Jazz Albums
June 22, 1991

#	Artist	Album
1	The Crusaders	Healing the Wounds	▶
2	Earl Klugh	Midnight in San Juan	▶
3	John Lucien	Listen Love	▶
4	Yellowjackets	Greenhouse	▶
5	Tuck & Patti	Dream	▶
6	George Howard	Love and Understanding	▶
7	Diane Schuur	Pure Schuur	▶
8	Joe Sample	Ashes to Ashes	▶
9	Dave Koz	Dave Koz	▶
10	Spyro Gyra	Collection	▶
11	Jean Luc Ponty	Tchokola	▶
12	Kilauea	Antigua Blue	▶
13	Arturo Sandoval	Flight to Freedom	▶
14	Special EFX	Peace of the World	▶
15	Kenny Blake	Interior Design	▶
16	Steve Laury	Stepping Out	▶
17	Kevyn Lettau	Kevyn Lettau	▶
18	Bireli Lagrene	Acoustic Moments	▶
19	T Lavitz	Mood Swing	▶
20	Lee Ritenour	Collection	▶
21	Ronnie Laws	Identity	▶
22	Pat Coil	Steps	▶
23	Grant Geissman	Flying Colors	▶
24	Gary Burton	Cool Nights	▶
25	Sam Cardon	Serious Leisure	▶

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