A Waltz for Grace

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A Waltz for Grace
A Waltz for Grace.jpg
Studio album by
Steve Williamson
Released1990
StudioWestside Studios, London and Systems Two Studios, New York
Genre Jazz
Length58:35
Label Verve
Producer Steve Coleman, Glenn Skinner, Steve Williamson
Steve Williamson chronology
A Waltz for Grace
(1990)		Rhyme Time (That Fuss Was Us)
(1991)

A Waltz for Grace is the debut album by English saxophonist Steve Williamson, released on the Verve label in 1990.

Contents

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [2]

The Los Angeles Times stated that "U.S.-session bassist Lonnie Plaxico and drummer Mark Mondesir ... provide inventive rhythmic stimulus which Williamson uses for demonstrations of reserve as well as gut-busting enthusiasm." [3]

AllMusic awarded the album with 3 stars and its review by Scott Yanow states: "At 25, Williamson displayed an original tenor sound and, although some of his soloing is in the Greg Osby/Gary Thomas 'M-Base' mode, he was not limited to that abstract style of improvising". [1] The Penguin Guide review says: "What is lastingly impressive about A Waltz for Grace is its tremendous rhythmic variety. 'Groove Thang' (a UK recorded soprano-percussion duet) leads directly into the fuller-sounding 'Synthesis' from New York, both largely dependent on Williamson's ability to balance a line over a jolting, staccato pulse". [2]

Track listing

All compositions by Steve Williamson except where noted.

  1. "Down (Slang)" – 3:18
  2. "Awakening" – 4:35
  3. "Visions" (Stevie Wonder)– 4:29
  4. "A Waltz for Grace" – 4:15
  5. "Mandy's Mood" – 5:49
  6. "Soon Come" – 4:14
  7. "Straight Ahead" – 4:45
  8. "Mandela" – 4:29
  9. "Groove Thang" – 1:42
  10. "Synthesis" – 4:59
  11. "Hummingbird" – 5:41
  12. "How High the Bird" – 4:22
  13. "Words Within Words" – 5:01

Personnel

References

  1. 1 2 Yanow, Scott, A Waltz for Grace, AllMusic. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  2. 1 2 Richard Cook and Brian Morton, The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD, LP & Cassette (Penguin, 1992: ISBN   978-0-14-015364-4).
  3. ↑ Kohlhaase, Bill (29 July 1990). "ALBUM REVIEWS : *** STEVE WILLIAMSON 'A Waltz for Grace'". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 31 August 2025.
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