Before the Dawn (album)
Encyclopedia
Before the Dawn was the second album by jazz
/R&B
singer Patrice Rushen
. While 1974's Prelusion
was essentially a straight-ahead record with fusion references, 1975's Before the Dawn album was essentially a fusion album. With this album Rushen brings a fusion of R&B, pop, and rock elements to her jazz foundation.
The album included the song "What's the Story," which was the only song that did not have a jazz artist's sound; it has a more funk tune which features singer Josie James. The would later be compared with songs from her follow-up albums as it showed great resemblance to her work as an R&B singer with Elektra Records
. Everything else on the album, however, is instrumental jazz — although instrumental jazz that is mindful of R&B, pop, and rock. The album was a clear step for Rushen as it showed her entrance to R&B music and exit from jazz music.
Her next album was Shout It Out, which would be her last with Prestige Records
.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
/R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
singer Patrice Rushen
Patrice Rushen
Patrice Rushen is a Grammy Award-winning African American R&B and jazz vocalist, composer and pianist.-Biography:...
. While 1974's Prelusion
Prelusion
Prelusion is the first album R&B singer 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 a singer before becoming a full-time R&B singer four years later after signing with Elektra Records...
was essentially a straight-ahead record with fusion references, 1975's Before the Dawn album was essentially a fusion album. With this album Rushen brings a fusion of R&B, pop, and rock elements to her jazz foundation.
The album included the song "What's the Story," which was the only song that did not have a jazz artist's sound; it has a more funk tune which features singer Josie James. The would later be compared with songs from her follow-up albums as it showed great resemblance to her work as an R&B singer with Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
. Everything else on the album, however, is instrumental jazz — although instrumental jazz that is mindful of R&B, pop, and rock. The album was a clear step for Rushen as it showed her entrance to R&B music and exit from jazz music.
Her next album was Shout It Out, which would be her last with Prestige Records
Prestige Records
Prestige Records was a jazz record label founded in 1949 by Bob Weinstock. The company was located at 203 South Washington Avenue in Bergenfield, New Jersey, and recorded hundreds of albums by many of the leading jazz musicians of the day, sometimes issuing them under the names of several...
.
Track listing
All tracks composed and arranged by Patrice Rushen- "Kickin' Back"
- "Jubilation"
- "What's the Story"
- "Before the Dawn"
- "Razzia"
Personnel
- Patrice Rushen - piano, synthesizer, clavinet, tambourine, cabasa
- Lee RitenourLee RitenourLee Mack Ritenour is an American jazz guitarist who has recorded over 42 albums, appeared on over 3000 sessions, and has charted over 30 instrumental and vocal contemporary jazz hits since 1976. One of his most popular songs was the smash hit, “Is It You” in 1981. Ritenour is considered to be a...
- guitar - Charles Meeks, Tony Dumas - bass
- Harvey MasonHarvey MasonHarvey William Mason is an American jazz drummer. He has worked with many jazz and fusion artists such as Bob James, The Brecker Brothers, Lee Ritenour, Herbie Hancock's Headhunters and almost all the Mizell Brothers productions with Donald Byrd, Johnny Hammond, Bobbi Humphrey and Gary Bartz...
, Leon "Ndugu" Chancler - drums - Hadley CalimanHadley CalimanHadley Caliman , was an American bebop saxophone and flute player.After studying at the Jefferson High School with trumpeter Art Farmer and fellow saxophonist Dexter Gordon, Caliman performed or recorded with Carlos Santana, Joe Henderson, Earl Hines, Freddie Hubbard, Jon Hendricks, Earl Anderza,...
- tenor saxophone - Oscar BrashearOscar BrashearOscar Brashear is an American jazz trumpeter and session musician.After studying at DuSable High School he worked briefly with Woody Herman before going on to join Count Basie '68-9, returning to freelance in Chicago with Sonny Stitt, Gene Ammons, Dexter Gordon and James Moody...
- flugelhorn, trumpet - Hubert Laws - flute
- Kenneth Nash, Nate Alfred - percussion
- George Bohannon - trombone
- Josie James - vocals on "What's the Story"