Patrice Rushen - Prelusion (1974) [2007]

When a 20-year-old Patrice Rushen recorded her debut album, Prelusion, in 1974, she was still four years away from becoming a full-time R&B singer. Instrumental jazz was her main focus, and there was every reason to believe that she would become a major figure in the jazz world. The L.A. native showed considerable promise on this entirely instrumental LP, which is best described as straight-ahead post-bop with fusion references and features such impressive soloists as tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson, trombonist George Bohanon, and trumpeter Oscar Brashear. Playing both acoustic piano and electric keyboards, Rushen brings a strong Herbie Hancock influence to promising originals like "Haw-Right Now," "Shortie's Portion," and "Puttered Bopcorn." Nonetheless, Rushen was an appealing improviser in her own right, and one can only speculate on where her career in jazz might have gone had she not switched to R&B singing in 1978.

Tracks:

01. Shortie's Portion (Rushen) - 8:46
02. 7/73 (Rushen) - 12:35
03. Haw-Right Now (Rushen) - 8:05
04. Traverse (Rushen) - 10:56
05. Puttered Bopcorn (Rushen) - 4:18

Personnel:

Patrice Rushen - acoustic piano, electric piano, clavinet, ARP synthesizers
George Bohanon - trombone
Oscar Brashear - trumpet, flugelhorn
Hadley Caliman - flute, alto flute, soprano saxophone
Joe Henderson - tenor saxophone
Ndugu - drums
Tony Dumas - electric bass, "blitz" bass
Kenneth Nash - percussion