About

Prelusion is the debut album from jazz musician and later R&B recording artist Patrice Rushen. The first of three albums she would record with Prestige Records, the album was mainly instrumental jazz which was her main focus as an artist before focusing on popular R&B recordings four years later after signing with Elektra Records. Released in 1974, the album showed great promise for Rushen in the instrumental jazz genre with songs like "Haw-Right Now", "Shortie's Portion", and "Puttered Bopcorn". 

The album effortlessly zigzags between post-pop and jazz fusion, and features contributions from legendary saxophonist Joe Henderson.

Reissued on vinyl for the first time in 50 years as part of Jazz Dispensary's Top Shelf series, the album was cut from the original analog tapes by Kevin Gray, pressed on 180-gram vinyl at RTI, and packaged in a gatefold tip-on jacket. — (via Label)

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The prodigiously talented Patrice Rushen is best remembered today for her R&B exploits, particularly the 1982 global mega-hit ‘Forget-Me-Nots’, but with Prelusion, her 1974 debut album on Prestige, it was clear that the then 19-year-old was an exciting new talent in jazz.

Across five instrumentals, the teenage Rushen shows off her considerable keyboard and compositional chops with support from jazz giants such as Joe Henderson, Oscar Brashear and Leon Chancler. It’s thrilling, high-energy Headhunters-style post-bop funk, with even the balladic ‘7/73’ proving irresistable.

Highlight here is of course the legendary ‘Haw-Right Now’, a certified banger with its bubbling bassline, crisp drumming, funky keys and clever time changes, all married to strident horn blowing and framed by Rushen’s earworm melody. The opening ‘Shortie’s Portion’ features dazzling piano runs and energetic brass, while the lengthy blues ‘Traverse’ – again led by Patrice’s virtuosic acoustic and electric piano – appropriately takes the listener on a musical journey. ‘Puttered Bopcorn’ demonstrates Rushen’s skill with, and inventive use of the then new-fangled synthesiser, making full use of its textural possibilities, and meshing it with her hard-funkin’ clavinet.

A stunning debut (sounding better than ever, thanks to Kevin Gray’s superb all-analogue remastering), Prelusion documents the start of Rushen’s hugely successful 50-plus year career as pianist, producer and now as Berklee’s Ambassador of Artistry In Education. — (via Jazzwise)

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Label: Prestige
Series: Jazz Dispensary Top Shelf Series
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, 180g
Reissued: 2024 / Original Release: 1974
Genre: Jazz, Funk / Soul
Style: Jazz-Funk, Fusion

File under: Jazz // Soul-Jazz / Jazz-Funk
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