As Khan released her first solo album, I'm Every Woman, the band released 1978's Numbers, sans Khan, and it went absolutely nowhere. Masterjam finds them back together, renamed Rufus and Chaka, with Quincy Jones producing the effort. Khan had worked with Jones on his 1978 album, Sounds...And Stuff Like That. The most striking thing about Masterjam is that is doesn't sound like a trademark Rufus effort. Jones' production style is so strong that the band's individual sound is all but lost. It's nothing to cry about, since Jones was at his R&B/pop peak and Rufus couldn't do it any better on their own. The album's first track is "Do What You Love What You Feel," with its subtle horn riffs arranged by Jerry Hey and vocals from guitarist Tony Maiden and Khan. On a track somewhat close to a ballad, the brilliantly arranged "Heaven Bound," Jones gets a good raw vocal from Khan. A frequent Jones collaborator, Rod Temperton, offers the title track and the even better "Live in Me." The album's only low point was a cover of Jones' own "Body Heat." On this version the pace is quickened, inexplicably turned into disco which revealed the lyrics to be paper-thin. Although Masterjam was just more of a Quincy Jones album than a Rufus effort, this ended up being one of the groups' last successful full-studio endeavors. ~ Jason Elias, All Music Guide
Larry Williams (Wind), Quincy Jones (Producer), Jerry Hey (Trumpet), Chaka Khan (Arranger), Larry Williams (Saxophone), Larry Hall (Flugelhorn), Kevin Murphy (Keyboards), Chaka Khan (Vocals), George A. Johnson, Jr. (Percussion), Rufus (Rhythm Arrangements), Sid Sharp (Concert Master), Jerry Hey (Flugelhorn), Rufus (Performer), Kevin Murphy (Vocals), Gary Grant (Horn), Richard Heath (Percussion), Bill Reichenbach Jr. (Trombone), Tony Maiden (Vocals), Chaka Khan (Vocals (Background)), Louis Johnson (Percussion), Tony Maiden (Guitar), Gary Grant (Flugelhorn), Rod Temperton (Arranger), David "Hawk" Wolinski (Arranger), Seawind (Horn), Rufus (Director), Louis Johnson (Clapping), Jerry Hey (Arranger), Bobby Watson (Bass), Bobby Watson (Arranger), Bobby Watson (Vocals), Jerry Hey (String Arrangements), Tony Maiden (Arranger), Sidney Sharp (Concert Master), David "Hawk" Wolinski (Keyboards), Bill Reichenbach Jr. (String Arrangements), George Osaki (Art Direction), George A. Johnson, Jr. (Handclapping), John "J.R." Robinson (Percussion), Kim Hutchcroft (Saxophone), John "J.R." Robinson (Handclapping), John "J.R." Robinson (Arranger), Kevin Murphy (Arranger), John "J.R." Robinson (Drums), Kim Hutchcroft (Flute), Bill Reichenbach Jr. (Arranger), Rufus & Chaka Khan (Performer), Chaka Khan (Director), Bruce Swedien (Mixing), Lew McCreary (Trombone), Kim Hutchcroft (Horn), Jerry Hey (Horn Arrangements), Sid Sharp (Strings), Bobby Holland (Photography), Gary Grant (Trumpet), Larry Hall (Trumpet), Bruce Swedien (Engineer), David "Hawk" Wolinski (Vocals), Larry Hall (Horn), Larry Williams (Flute), Louis Johnson (Handclapping), Ed Caraeff (Design), Chaka Khan (Performer), Ed Caraeff (Photography), Richard Heath (Handclapping)
Masterjam is the eighth studio album by funk band Rufus (billed as 'Rufus & Chaka'), their debut on the MCA Records label, released in 1979. Masterjam which was produced by Quincy Jones was the band's fourth album to top Billboard's R&B Albums chart and also reached #14 on Pop. The album includes the singles "Do You Love What You Feel", their fourth #1 hit on the R&B Singles chart and also #30 on Pop, "Any Love" (US R&B #24, 1980) and "I'm Dancing for Your Love" (US R&B #43, 1980).
Following MasterjamChaka Khan recorded her second solo album Naughty and Rufus Party 'Til You're Broke, both released in 1980. Khan reunited with the band again in 1981 for the recording of Camouflage.
