Jazz / Urban, Crossover Jazz, Quiet Storm, Smooth Jazz
Norman Connors - Percussion, Producer, Drums
Alan Walker Drum Programming
Allan "Onaje" Gumbs Arranger
Angela Bofill Performer
Bill White Guitar
Bobby Lyle Keyboards
Darryl Richards Sax (Tenor)
Denise Stewart Vocals
Donald Tavie Arranger
Fonzi Thornton Vocals
Freddie "Ready Freddie" Washington Bass
Gail Johnson Keyboards
Gary Bartz Sax (Alto)
Gerald Albright Arranger, Sax (Alto), Bass, Programming
Herman Jackson Keyboards, Guitar
Jean Carne Vocals
Jervonny Collier Bass
Johnny Britt Trumpet
Kevin Owens Vocals
Land Richards Drums
Larry McGee Keyboards, Guitar, Bass
Les Falconer Drums
Lisa Fisher Vocals
Marion Meadows Sax (Soprano)
Marlene Bergman Design, Art Direction
Munyungo Jackson Percussion
Nils Jiptner Guitar
Paul Jackson, Jr. Guitar
Preston Glass Keyboards, Arranger, Programming
Ricky Lawson Drums
Shay Best Vocals
Stanley Jones Guitar
Tony Jones Bass
Wil Wheaton Vocals
Will Miller Trumpet
Since the mid-'70s, Connors has been one of the most successful crossover jazz artists. Albums like You Are My Starship, Invitation, and Passion are necessities for those who are fans of the genre. Eternity is the first album on his label Starship Records, which is distributed by The Right Stuff. This effort, like his '90s efforts for Motown -- finds Connors expounding on his classic style as well as making overtures to the contemporary jazz market. The cover of "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" is arranged by Onaje Allan Gumbs and features a sax solo from Gary Bartz. A song that Connors planned on covering with the late Phyllis Hyman has Lisa Fischer stepping in and giving a great, emotionally charged performance. Connors also does a cover of his 1976 classic "You Are My Starship" here. Although the original is definitive, Peabo Bryson does the vocal and his timbre is perfect for the track. Angie Bofill takes the lead for the powerful and haunting "You Can't Hurt Me Anymore." Not everything on Eternity is great, though. "Conditions of the Heart" and an instrumental cover of Toni Braxton's "You're Making Me High" isn't much different than the "smooth jazz" style that's been treading water since the late '80s. Other songs are closer to his hooky and melodic production style. "Just Another Love Song" and a cover of Donny Hathaway's "We're Still Friends" with lead vocals from Donald Tavie have the romantic appeal of Connors' best work. Eternity is another classic effort from one of jazz's best performers and producers. ~ Jason Elias, All Music Guide
Norman Connors
Active Decades: '70s, '80s, '90s and '00s
Born: Mar 01, 1947 in Philadelphia, PA
Genre: Jazz
Styles: Soul, Urban, Jazz-Funk, Fusion, Post-Bop, Crossover Jazz, Quiet Storm, Smooth Jazz
Like Roy Ayers, George Benson, and Patrice Rushen, Norman Connors is best known for his major R&B hits but started out as a jazz improviser. The drummer/composer was born and raised in Philadelphia, where he lived in the same neighborhood as Bill Cosby and became interested in jazz when he was only a child. As a kid in elementary school, Connors was exposed to jazz extensively thanks to such schoolmates as drummer Lex Humphries and the younger brother of bassist and Jazz Messenger-to-be Spanky De Brest. Connors was in junior high when he began sneaking into jazz clubs and sat in for Elvin Jones at a John Coltrane gig. At 13, he first got to meet his idol, Miles Davis, and started expressing his admiration for the famous trumpeter by dressing like him. Connors went on to study music at Philly's Temple University and the Juilliard School of Music in New York. Gigs with Jackie McLean, Jack McDuff, and Sam Rivers followed, and he was first recorded as a sideman when Archie Shepp employed him on his 1967 Impulse! session Magic of Ju-Ju.
After touring with Pharoah Sanders and playing on several of his albums, Connors signed with Buddah's Cobblestone label in 1972 and recorded his first album as a leader, Dance of Magic and its follow-up, Dark of Light. A few more jazz-oriented Cobblestone and Buddah dates followed, and it was in 1975 that Connors made R&B his main priority with Saturday Night Special (which included the number ten soul hit "Valentine Love"). The rest of the 1970s found Connors featuring R&B singers prominently (including Michael Henderson, Jean Carn, and the late Phyllis Hyman) and scoring such R&B hits as "We Both Need Each Other," "Once I've Been There," and the lovely "You Are My Starship." Connors, who signed with Arista in 1977, wasn't as popular or as visible in the 1980s, although he would make a comeback in the 1990s by signing with Motown's MoJazz label and focusing on both urban contemporary and crossover. The 21st century found him moving along similar lines, releasing Eternity on Starship Records in 2000 and Star Power in 2009 on Shanachie Records.
---Alex Henderson, All Music Guide |
