Grover Washington, Jr. always put on exciting shows, and this performance from the Bijou Cafe in Philadelphia is a good example of his repertoire in 1977. It doesn't reach the heights of his best studio recordings or concerts, but there are some fine moments. Utilizing his octet at the time (with violinist
John Blake, keyboardist
James Simmons, and flutist
Leslie Burrs), this LP mostly features
Washington playing lesser-known tunes that wouldn't be in his repertoire for long (other than a medley that includes "Mr. Magic"), but
Washington (heard on tenor, alto, and soprano) consistently brightens the material.