Bijou to Yaju

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.

In early 1973 Gram Parsons embarked on a tour to promote his recently released first solo album GP. He put together a skilled band, including the then unknown Emmylou Harris as his singing partner. The shows were a bit uneven at first, but by mid-tour the band started to find it's groove. One show stood out to pedal steel player Neil Flanz - the 3rd night at the Bijou Cafe in Philadelphia. Neil felt that this was the best show of the tour and requested a copy of the soundboard recording. He saved it for almost 40 years before it was acquired by Amoeba Music for a future release. It then disappeared in the vault for another 10 years before being rediscovered when Amoeba moved to a new location in LA. A 50 year old soundboard cassette offers unique challenges, but thanks to the efforts of some of the worlds best archival sound restoration engineers, the beauty and energy of Gram, Emmy and the band shine through.