Jazz / Rhythm & Blues, Urban, Fusion
Alvin Flythe Rap, Horn, Vocals, Handclapping, Arranger, Soloist, Sax (Tenor), Vocals (Background)
Bernard Wright Clavinet, Arranger, Rap, Piano (Electric), Vocals (Background), Piano, Melodica, Keyboards, Fender Rhodes, Vocals, Synthesizer
Bobby Broom Guitar (Electric)
Bobby Floyd Vocals
Buddy Williams Drums
Charley Drayton Handclapping, Vocals (Background), Drums
Crusher Bennett Percussion
Dave Grusin Liner Notes, Mixing, Producer, Fender Rhodes, Synthesizer
Dennis Chambers Handclapping, Drums
Don Blackman Vocals (Background), Piano, Vocals, Fender Rhodes, Arranger
Donn Davenport Art Direction
Ed Jackson Horn
Howard Fritzson Design
Howard Grate Drums
Hui Wang Stylist
Jimmy Owens Horn
John Ford Photography
Kevin Oliver Guitar (Electric), Handclapping
Kurt Smith Handclapping
Larry Rosen Liner Notes, Engineer, Mixing, Producer
Luther Vandross Vocals (Background)
Marcus Miller Arranger, Handclapping, Bass (Electric)
Mike Flythe Rap, Drums, Handclapping, Vocals
Ollie Cotton Engineer, Mixing Assistant, Assistant Engineer
Patti Austin Vocals (Background)
Patty Evans Make-Up
Peter Lopez Production Coordination
Rick Matthews Handclapping, Rap
Ron Miller Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Synthesizer), Piano (Electric)
Roy Haynes Drums
Sherry Snyder Vocals (Background), Handclapping
Tamara Matthews Handclapping
Ted Jensen Mastering
Webster McKnight Hair Stylist
Like Tom Browne and Lenny WhiteTwennynine, Bernard Wright was part of Jamaica, Queens' R&B/funk scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s, which gave us such major hits as Twennynine's "Peanut Butter" and Browne's "Funkin' for Jamaica." Browne and White were both talented jazz musicians, but R&B/funk was their main focus at that time. Similarly, keyboardist/pianist Wright occasionally flirts with instrumental jazz on his debut album, 'Nard, but pays a lot more attention to vocal-oriented soul and funk. The only instrumentals on this out-of-print LP are the jazz-funk smoker "Firebolt Hustle," the Rodney Franklin-ish "Bread Sandwiches," and a relaxed interpretation of Miles Davis' "Solar," which finds Wright forming an acoustic piano trio with bassist Buster Williams and drummer Roy Haynes. Otherwise, this is an R&B album that is defined by such impressive funk as "Spinnin'," "Master Rocker," and the goofy but wildly infectious "Haboglabotribin'." Recorded when the keyboardist/pianist was only 16, 'Nard was expected to be a big hit, but surprisingly, didn't fare as well as albums by Browne and White. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
Bernard Wright
Active Decade: '80s
Born: 1963 in Miami, FL
Genre: Jazz
Styles: Adult Contemporary R&B, Crossover Jazz, Funk, Fusion, Post-Bop, Urban
Keyboardist Bernard Wright seemed like a coming fusion and urban star when he toured with Lenny White at 13 and played with Tom Browne in 1979. He got such strong response that he was signed to GRP in 1981. But the LP 'Nard stalled, though there was good reaction among R&B and fusion fans to the single "Just Chillin' Out." It was followed by Funky Beat for Arista and Mr. Wright for ManhattanEMI. Wright also co-wrote and sang with La La on "We'll Keep Strivin." He has recorded with Cameo, Bobby Brown, Pieces of a Dream, and Charles Earland, among others.
---Ron Wynn, All Music Guide |
