Washington Steps Lively for ‘Soulful Strut’

If saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. sounded a bit practiced when talking about his new album last week, it was understandable. He’d already done 24 interviews that day, some no longer than five minutes. The day before, he’d made a couple of radio appearances. Every pertinent question had been posed.

Such are the rigors of album promotion. Later on that same day, Washington was to tape an appearance to be shown on CNN. But now he had some time to talk, and while his remarks about the new disc, “Soulful Strut,” may have sounded canned, the saxophonist, who appears with singer Dianne Reeves on Friday and Saturday at the Cerritos Center, opened up when talking about his formative years back in Buffalo, N.Y.

“There was club called the Pine Grill that was on the circuit,” Washington said by phone from Philadelphia. “All the musicians would play there and go on to Toronto. And I’d go into jam sessions when I was only 10 or 11 years old and just listen, just sit there and listen to them play. I heard guys like [saxophonists] Harold Vick and Charles Lloyd on the radio, and then they’d come through the club. It was a great inspiration.

“I got tremendous encouragement from everybody,” said Washington, whose father played C-melody saxophone and who collected 78-rpm jazz recordings. “My first private teacher, Elvin Sheppard, was very influential.

“I came in for the first lesson with my horn and instead he sat me down at the piano and said, ‘You’ve got the whole orchestra right here’ and told me I’d learn music on the piano. That was very good advice.”

Washington, who played his first gig when he was 12, has reached his 40th year as a professional musician. His reputation as an R&B-styled; saxophonist who knows how to give the people what they want still reflects his early experience playing in soul and gutbucket bands back in Buffalo.

“I really don’t have the time to stop and look back at my career,” he said, “except during interviews when I get questions about it. All I know is that there are a lot of musical styles that I haven’t explored yet. And I want to keep doing something new.”

Washington still had a day job unloading trucks at a Philadelphia record wholesaler when he got his first recording break in 1970. He was scheduled to be a sideman on a Hank Crawford recording for the Kudu label. Crawford suddenly canceled, and producer Creed Taylor looked to Washington to lead the session.

“I was supposed to play tenor behind Crawford, but when he couldn’t make it Creed asked me if I played much alto [Crawford’s instrument]. I didn’t even own an alto at that time. Outside of school stage bands and in the Army, I hadn’t played much alto at all. So I had them rent me one and said I’d come back the next day and we’d see what would happen.”

The result, “Inner City Blues,” was an immediate hit. Washington then had a string of successful recordings for Kudu, Motown, Elektra and Columbia, including his big-selling, romance-minded album from 1980, “Winelight.”

After journeying into mainstream jazz with “All My Tomorrows”--a collection of standards and jazz-inflected tunes from Stevie Wonder and Percy Mayfield performed with such musicians as pianist Hank Jones, bassist George Mraz and vocalist Freddy Cole (Nat’s brother)--Washington has returned to the groove with “Soulful Strut.” The title tune is the 1968 single made famous by Young-Holt Unlimited.

“That song’s been a favorite of mine for a long time,” Washington said. “What I like about it is that it’s upbeat, almost like a celebration, and it sits very well with all the original tunes that make up the rest of the CD.”

Washington has a ready answer when it’s pointed out that the new disc is decidedly different from its predecessor. “That’s just what I do, deal with different musical neighborhoods in every album that comes out. I want to keep learning, keep having fun and do something new.”

Yet he takes no offense when it’s suggested that “Soulful Strut” is less something new and more like what he’s been doing since recording his big breakthrough album from 1975, “Mr. Magic.”

“Soulful Strut,” he said, “has been received well. People like the original tunes. What we’re trying to do is celebrate life through the music. I use a lot of influences, but I try to stay fresh and current. I’m not resting on my laurels. I’m trying to take everything to a new level.”

When asked what direction he’ll take now that “Soulful Strut” is in stores, Washington said: “We’ll have to wait and see. I just know it’s going to be different every time out. Trust me.”

* Who: Grover Washington Jr.

* When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with Dianne Reeves.

* Where: Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 12700 Center Court Drive.

* Whereabouts: Exit the Artesia (91) Freeway at Park Plaza Drive and turn right onto Park Plaza Drive. Turn right on Town Centre Drive, then left on Center Court Drive.

* Wherewithal: $30-$45.

* Where to call: (800) 300-4345.