Patrice Rushen is a wonderful musician
Patrice Louise Rushen (born September 30, 1954) is an American composer, record producer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, music director and vocalist. She is best known for the 1982 hit, “Forget Me Nots”, for which she received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.
Patrice has a style that have some similarity of Herbie Hancock, but she is independent and very personal. Her singing voice is light but quite charming. She’s an excellent keyboard player and musician with groove and elegant touch and she cover many musical styles with bravour.
In the late 70s I bought frequently used lp records and then bought several albums with Patrice Rushen. “Ready” Freddie Washington, who plays bass on several of Patrice’s album (also played with Bill Summers (percussion), and Herbie Hancock), also made a big impression on me. The famous song “Forget Me Nots” is actually composed jointly by both Patrice Rushen and “Ready” Freddie Washington.
I have a link to Patrice official webpage after the sound clips and videos below.
Sound clips
Patrice Rushen – “Shortie’s Portion” from the album “Prelusion” (1974), Patrice is only 20 here. Great sax solo by Joe Henderson and trumpet solo by Oscar Brashear
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QafbAoZVnjY
Patrice Rushen – “Razzia” from the album “Before The Dawn” (1975)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHYIEGIpStk
Patrice Rushen – “The Hump” from her album “Shout It Out!” (1976), very funky
Patrice Rushen – “Roll With The Punches” from her album “Shout It Out!” (1976), very funky
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70981do_BoQ
Videos
Wayne Shorter and Carlos Santana teamed up with Patrice Rushen and other acclaimed musicians for a classic gig at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1988.
Rushen composed this piece and plays the keys and synths here with the improv of Shorter’s sax throughout.
Carlos Santana ~ Guitar
Wayne Shorter ~ Saxophone
Patrice Rushen ~ Keyboards
Chester Thompson ~ Keyboards
Alphonso Johnson ~ Bass
Armando Peraza ~ Congas
José Chepito Areas ~ Timbales
Leon “Ndugu” Chancler ~ Drums
Carlos Santana – Wayne Shorter Group (with Patrice Rushen) – “Elegant People”, Live In Pori Jazz festival (1988)
Musicians:
Carlos Santana ~ Guitar
Wayne Shorter ~ Saxophone
Patrice Rushen ~ Keyboards
Chester Thompson ~ Keyboards
Alphonso Johnson ~ Bass
Armando Peraza ~ Congas
José Chepito Areas ~ Timbales
Leon “Ndugu” Chancler ~ Drums
Patrice Rushen, Stanley Clarke and Ndugu Chancler ~ “Oleo”(Sonny Rollins) from the album “Standards” recorded in 2001
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMLkgtJ3N0w
Lee Ritenour / Patrice Rushen – “Forget Me Nots” at “North Sea Jazz Festival” (2009)
Patrice Rushen Performs with her friends Ndugu Chancler, Everette Harp, Doc Powell and Ready Freddie Washington (2012)
…in the Beat Bar at the popular Southport Weekender Minehead UK 11 May 2012 and what an Amazing set it was true musicians, performers and an Inspiration to all around them. The room was electrified from start to finish and left the crowd wanting more one of the many highlights of this incredible event.
If you want to read more about Patrice click here.