In addition, he performed very frequently with other artists, including Bill Withers on "Just the Two of Us" (a song still in regular rotation on radio today) and Phyllis Hyman on "Sacred Kind of Love". He is also remembered for his take on a Dave Brubeck classic, called "Take Another Five", as well as for his hit "Soulful Strut". His work continues to inspire jazz artists even today.
Washington was born in Buffalo, New York, 12 December 1943. Regarded as one of the revolutionaries in jazz music and is considered one of the greatest saxophone players in modern jazz history. He led many others to follow in his footsteps.
Washington's history was music-filled. His mother was a church chorister, and his father was a collector of old jazz 78s and a saxophonist as well, so music was everywhere in the home. He grew up with the great jazz men and big band leaders like Benny Goodman, Fletcher Henderson, and others like them. At the age of 8, with the desire for him to be more than he could be, Grover Sr. gave Jr. a saxophone. He practiced and sneaked into clubs to see famous Buffalo blues musicians.
He left Buffalo and played with a mid-west group called the Four Clefs. He was drafted into the US Army shortly thereafter, but this was to be to his advantage, as he met drummer Billy Cobham. Cobham, a mainstay in New York City, introduced Washington to many New York musicians. After leaving the Army, Washington freelanced his talents around New York City, eventually landing in Philadelphia in 1967.
Grover's big break came at the expense of another artist. Alto sax man Hank Crawford was unable to make a recording date with Prestige Records, and Washington took his place, even though he was a backup. This led to his first album, Inner City Blues. He was talented, and displayed heart and soul with soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones. Refreshing for his time, he made headway into the jazz mainstream. His fifth album, 1974's Mister Magic was a commercial success, and introduced guitarist Eric Gale in as a near-permanent member in Washington's arsenal.
A string of acclaimed records brought Washington through the 1970s, which culminated in the signature piece for everything Washington would do from then on. 1980's Winelight was the album that defined everything Washington was about. The album was smooth, fused with R and B and easy listening feel. Washington's love of basketball, especially the Philadelphia 76ers, led him to dedicate his first track, Let It Flow to Julius Erving (Dr. J). The highlight of the album, and a main staple of radio airplay everywhere, was his great collaboration with soul artist Bill Withers, Just The Two of Us. It was also the final step away from Motown, landing him on Elektra Records and into a new era of jazz excellence. The album went platinum in 1981, and also won Grammy Awards in 1982 for Best R and B Song ("Just The Two of Us"), and Best Jazz Fusion Performance ("Winelight"). "Winelight" was also nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
From that point, Washington is credited (or scorned, as some may say) for giving rise to a new batch of talent that would make its mark in the late 80s and early 90s. He is blamed for bringing Kenny G to the forefront, but also credited with bringing such smooth jazz artists as Walter Beasley, Steve Cole, Pamela Williams, Najee, George Howard, and The Philadelphia Experiment into popular attention.
The tragedy and irony of Washington's life was that while he was able to get his big break from another artist's absence, Washington lived long enough to bring smooth jazz to the last points of the old millennium, but didn't outlive Hank Crawford, whose absence gave him his big break (and is still alive, as of 2005). On December 17th, 1999, while waiting in the green room after taping four songs for the The Early Show, at CBS Studios in New York City, Washington collapsed. He was taken to St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at about 7:30 p.m. His doctors determined that he had suffered a massive heart attack.
Grover Washington Jr.'s legacy lives on in the futures of up-and-coming jazz artists, and his life is celebrated from college campuses all around the nation to the hallowed streets of his own Philadelphia, his adopted hometown.
Jammin
Grover Washington Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you came on the scene 10 years ago
I thought I was hip, I could deal with the trips
No matter how fast or slow
I was like a moving violation
Give me a ticket and I'm ready to ride
Thought I was the queen of syncopation
Thought I knew it all, baby
But I didn't know it all, baby
Thought I knew it all, baby
But I didn't know it all, baby
?Cause when you kissed my lips
When you kissed my lips
I was jammin'
Jammin' for the first time
Jammin', jammin'
Jammin' for the first time
Jammin', jammin'
Jammin' for the first time
Baby, I was young, I was green
When you showed me the ropes 10 years ago
I thought I was cool, I could break all the rules
No matter how fast or slow
I was like a moving violation
Give me a ticket and I'm ready to ride
Thought I was the queen of syncopation
You know you can't give the queen no bad advice
Thought I knew it all, baby
But I didn't know it all, baby
Thought I knew it all, baby
But I didn't know it all, baby
?Cause when you kissed my lips
When you kissed my lips
I was jammin'
Jammin' for the first time
Jammin', jammin'
Jammin' for the first time
Jammin', jammin'
Jammin' for the first time
I was a girl from the streets
Dancin' to the beat
Of a different kind of drummer
Little Ms. Know-it-all, you don't know it all
Caught up in the rhythm of sound
Living to get down
As the song became my lover
Attitude keeps your head up to the sky
Then you kissed my lips and, ooh
I lost my cool
Look at me I'm jammin'
And everything's happenin'
I'm feeling the bliss and the reason for this
Is the love in your kiss, baby
Jammin'
Jammin', jammin'
Jammin' for the first time
Jammin', jammin'
Jammin' for the first time
I was like a moving violation
Give me a ticket, baby
Thought I was the queen of syncopation
You know you can't give the queen no bad advice
Thought I knew it all, baby
But I didn't know it all, baby
Thought I knew it all, baby
But I didn't know it all, baby
?Cause when you kissed my lips
And my backbone slipped
I was jammin'
Jammin' for the first time
The square root of a positive groove
Times a happening melody equals a jam
Give some to the back
No
Ooh, baby
No
You got me movin' and I'm jammin' for the first time
No
Ooh, baby
No
You got me movin' and I'm jammin' for the first time
I was like a moving violation
Give me a ticket, baby
Thought I was the queen of syncopation
You know you can't give the queen no bad advice
I was like a moving violation
Give me a ticket, baby
Thought I was the queen of syncopation
You know you can't give the queen no bad advice
The song "Jamming" by Grover Washington Jr. tells a story of a woman who thought she knew everything about music and rhythm, but was proven wrong when she experienced something new and exciting with a man who showed her the ropes, and made her feel things she had never felt before. It is a love song that uses metaphors of movement and rhythm to describe the emotions felt by the singer.
The lyrics use several metaphors to describe the feelings of the singer, comparing her to a moving violation, a queen of syncopation, and a girl from the streets. These metaphors convey her attitude of confidence and rebelliousness towards the rules of music, but also her openness to new experiences and learning from a lover.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Jamming for the first time" several times, emphasizing the transformative power of love and new experiences. The song also features a spoken-word section that includes a mathematical equation: "The square root of a positive groove times a happening melody equals a jam." This line adds an intellectual and playful element to the song, while also conveying the idea that a perfect balance of elements is necessary for a great musical experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, I was just a young girl
I was young and inexperienced
When you came on the scene 10 years ago
When you arrived on the music scene a decade ago
I thought I was hip, I could deal with the trips
I believed I was cool and could handle anything
No matter how fast or slow
Regardless of the tempo
I was like a moving violation
I moved with intensity
Give me a ticket and I'm ready to ride
I am always prepared to go all in
Thought I was the queen of syncopation
I believed myself to be the master of musical timing
You know you can't give the queen no bad advice
I was too confident to accept criticism
Thought I knew it all, baby
I was convinced that I knew everything
But I didn't know it all, baby
But in reality, I still had much to learn
Cause when you kissed my lips
When you kissed me passionately
I was jammin'
I was caught up in the moment
Jammin' for the first time
Experiencing this feeling for the first time
I was a girl from the streets
I grew up in a rough urban environment
Dancin' to the beat
Dancing to the rhythm
Of a different kind of drummer
To the beat of my own personal rhythm
Little Ms. Know-it-all, you don't know it all
I was overly confident and sometimes stubborn
Caught up in the rhythm of sound
I was lost in the music
Living to get down
I was obsessed with dancing and having fun
As the song became my lover
As the music consumed my thoughts and emotions
Attitude keeps your head up to the sky
Confidence and positive mindset help you succeed
I lost my cool
I couldn't control my excitement
Look at me I'm jammin'
I am fully immersed in the music
And everything's happenin'
Everything around me is alive and vibrating
I'm feeling the bliss and the reason for this
I am experiencing pure joy and love
Is the love in your kiss, baby
It's because of your affection and passion
The square root of a positive groove
A clever way of describing the math behind creating a great musical jam
Times a happening melody equals a jam
A great beat paired with a catchy tune creates a jam
Give some to the back
Share the love of music
You got me movin' and I'm jammin' for the first time
You have inspired me to dance and feel the music
Thought I knew it all, baby
I thought I had all the answers
But I didn't know it all, baby
But in reality, I had much to learn
No
A playful way of saying "stop"
Ooh, baby
An expression of appreciation and affection
You got me movin' and I'm jammin' for the first time
You have inspired me to dance and feel the music
Give me a ticket, baby
I am ready for whatever comes my way
You know you can't give the queen no bad advice
I may be stubborn and confident, but I won't take bad advice
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARY C BROCKERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind