Top Contemporary Jazz Albums – June 22, 1991

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