Patrice Rushen - Prelusion (Jazz Dispensary Top Shelf Series / Remastered) (1974/2024)

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Patrice Rushen - Prelusion (Jazz Dispensary Top Shelf Series / Remastered) (1974/2024)

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Prelusion is the debut album from iconic recording artist Patrice Rushen, originally released on Prestige Records in 1974. The album effortlessly zigzags between Post-Bop 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. Also availavle in 24/192 hi-res.

Patrice Rushen – vocals, acoustic piano, electric piano, ARP synthesizer, clavinet
Tony Dumas – electric bass, "blitz" bass
Leon "Ndugu" Chancler – drums, rhythm arrangement (5)
Kenneth Nash – percussion
Joe Henderson – tenor saxophone
Hadley Caliman – flute, alto flute, soprano saxophone
Oscar Brashear – trumpet, flugelhorn
George Bohanon – trombone

AllMusic Review by Alex Henderson
When a 20-year-old Patrice Rushen recorded her debut album, Prelusion, in 1974, she was still four years away from becoming a full-time R&B singer. Instrumental jazz was her main focus, and there was every reason to believe that she would become a major figure in the jazz world. The L.A. native showed considerable promise on this entirely instrumental LP, which is best described as straight-ahead post-bop with fusion references and features such impressive soloists as tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson, trombonist George Bohanon, and trumpeter Oscar Brashear. Playing both acoustic piano and electric keyboards, Rushen brings a strong Herbie Hancock influence to promising originals like "Haw-Right Now," "Shortie's Portion," and "Puttered Bopcorn." Nonetheless, Rushen was an appealing improviser in her own right, and one can only speculate on where her career in jazz might have gone had she not switched to R&B singing in 1978.