Jazz / Urban, Crossover Jazz, Contemporary R&B
Pieces of a Dream - Arranger, Conductor
Cedric A. Napoleon - Bass, Vocals
Charles Jones - Vocals (Background)
Curtis Harmon - Drums
Barry Craig Assistant
David Kennedy Photography
Grover Washington, Jr. Saxophone, Mixing, Conductor, Producer, Arranger
James K. Lloyd Keyboards, Piano (Grand), Synthesizer, Fender Rhodes
Leonard "Doc" Gibbs Conga, Percussion
Marilyn Ashford Vocals (Background)
Nimite Sarikananda Mastering
Paul Silverthorne Production Coordination
Peter Humphreys Mixing, Engineer
Randy Abrams Assistant
Richard Lee Steacker Guitar
Roy Smith Guitar, Soloist
Scott MacMinn Assistant
Pieces of a Dream's third album for Elektra, Imagine This features more of the softly funky jazz and r&b mix that helped to define the smooth jazz genre. Produced by saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr., the album largely centers around keyboardist James K. Lloyd's Jupiter 8 synthesizer chops. In that sense, it retains a level of period '80s kitsch with Lloyd tapping into the burgeoning rap music sound with synthesizer-generated record "scratching" and syncopated drum beats. To these ends, "For the Fun of It" is a Furious Five-ready single minus the rapping while "It's Getting Hot in Here" sounds like "Freedom Jazz Dance" played on a Casio keyboard. Other tracks including the "quiet storm" ballads "It's Time for Love" and danceable "Fo-Fi Fo" feature stellar vocals from bassist Cedric A. Napoleon. ~ Matt Collar, All Music Guide
Pieces of a Dream
Active Decades: '70s, '80s, '90s and '00s
Born: 1975 in Philadelphia, PA
Genre: Jazz
Styles: Urban, Crossover Jazz, Smooth Jazz
Comprised of bassist Cedric Napoleon, drummer Curtis Harmon, and keyboardist James Lloyd, Pieces of a Dream were founded in 1975 in Philadelphia when the principal members were all teenagers. Originally somewhat jazz-oriented, Pieces of a Dream have mostly emphasized R&B, although they usually include a few jazz numbers in their performances. Grover Washington, Jr. produced their first three albums (all for Elektra during 1981-1983); they have since recorded for Manhattan and Blue Note. Saxophonist Ron Kerber became a member in the 1990s, preceding the four varied releases that appeared throughout the decade. A collection appeared at the turn of the century, but the band proved to still be going strong with 2001's Acquainted with the Night and 2002's Love's Silhouette. No Assembly Required was released in 2004 on Cleveland's Heads Up label, followed by 2006's Pillow Talk, also on Heads Up.
--- Scott Yanow, All Music Guide |
