Ramsey Lewis - Upendo Ni Pamoja / Sun Goddess CD

A three time Grammy Award winner Lewis became one of the most successful jazz pianists in America. His style ensured that even those with no interest in jazz could easily get into his music. And Ramsey even had three big hit singles 'The In Crowd', 'Hang On Sloopy' and 'Wade In The Water' all of which sold over a million copies. Over the years, the man has recorded an incredible 80+ albums, starting with 'Gentlemen Of Swing' in 1956. In 1972, he released 'Upendo Ni Pamoja', which marked the debut of the Ramsey Lewis Trio, with bassist Cleveland Eaton and drummer Morris Jennings providing the rhythm section. Although this wasn't the definitive version of the Ramsey Lewis Trio (that featured drummer Isaac 'Redd' Hot and bassist Eldee Young), nonetheless it does have a real focus and purpose. A lot of this record features cover versions, with War's 'Slipping Into Darkness' and the Jackson 5's 'Got To Be There' both getting sumptuous treatment. It was two years later that Lewis teamed up with Maurice White from Earth, Wind & Fire (on the surface, an unlikely collaboration, but White had at one time been a member of the Ramsey Lewis Trio), he came out with 'Sun Goddess', moving away from the approach that had been his forte for several years and into a more contemporary area. The result was a surprisingly successful album, one that reached number 12 in the main US chart, as well as topping both the black and jazz charts. There were also two hit singles, with both the title song and 'Hot Dawgit' making the Top 50, while the former reached number five on the disco chart.

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