Like Tom Browne and Lenny White/Twennynine, Bernard Wright was part of Jamaica, Queens' R&B/funk scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s, which gave us such major hits as Twennynine's "Peanut Butter" and Browne's "Funkin' for Jamaica." Browne and White were both talented jazz musicians, but R&B/funk was their main focus at that time. Similarly, keyboardist/pianist Wright occasionally flirts with instrumental jazz on his debut album, 'Nard, but pays a lot more attention to vocal-oriented soul and funk. The only instrumentals on this out-of-print LP are the jazz-funk smoker "Firebolt Hustle," the Rodney Franklin-ish "Bread Sandwiches," and a relaxed interpretation of Miles Davis' "Solar," which finds Wright forming an acoustic piano trio with bassist Buster Williams and drummer Roy Haynes. Otherwise, this is an R&B album that is defined by such impressive funk as "Spinnin'," "Master Rocker," and the goofy but wildly infectious "Haboglabotribin'." Recorded when the keyboardist/pianist was only 16, 'Nard was expected to be a big hit, but surprisingly, didn't fare as well as albums by Browne and White. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
Patti Austin (Vocals (Background)), Luther Vandross (Vocals (Background)), Jimmy Owens (Horn), Bernard Wright (Synthesizer), Bernard Wright (Piano), Bernard Wright (Arranger), Bernard Wright (Keyboards), Bernard Wright (Piano (Electric)), Bernard Wright (Vocals), Bernard Wright (Vocals (Background)), Bernard Wright (Clavinet), Bernard Wright (Melodica), Bernard Wright (Rap), Bernard Wright (Main Performer), Bernard Wright (Fender Rhodes), Dennis Chambers (Drums), Dennis Chambers (Handclapping), Crusher Bennett (Percussion), Don Blackman (Piano), Don Blackman (Arranger), Don Blackman (Vocals), Don Blackman (Vocals (Background)), Don Blackman (Fender Rhodes), Bobby Broom (Guitar (Electric)), Dave Grusin (Synthesizer), Dave Grusin (Producer), Dave Grusin (Liner Notes), Dave Grusin (Fender Rhodes), Dave Grusin (Mixing), Charley Drayton (Drums), Charley Drayton (Vocals (Background)), Charley Drayton (Handclapping), Alvin Flythe (Arranger), Alvin Flythe (Horn), Alvin Flythe (Sax (Tenor)), Alvin Flythe (Vocals), Alvin Flythe (Vocals (Background)), Alvin Flythe (Handclapping), Alvin Flythe (Rap), Alvin Flythe (Soloist), Mike Flythe (Drums), Mike Flythe (Vocals), Mike Flythe (Handclapping), Mike Flythe (Rap), Howard Grate (Drums), Roy Haynes (Drums), Ed Jackson (Horn), Ted Jensen (Mastering), Marcus Miller (Arranger), Marcus Miller (Bass (Electric)), Marcus Miller (Handclapping), Larry Rosen (Producer), Larry Rosen (Engineer), Larry Rosen (Liner Notes), Larry Rosen (Mixing), Sherry Snyder (Vocals (Background)), Sherry Snyder (Handclapping), Buddy Williams (Drums), Rick Matthews (Handclapping), Rick Matthews (Rap), Ollie Cotton (Engineer), Ollie Cotton (Assistant Engineer), Ollie Cotton (Mixing Assistant), Patty Evans (Make-Up), Kurt Smith (Handclapping), Howard Fritzson (Design), Donn Davenport (Art Direction), Peter Lopez (Production Coordination), Webster McKnight (Hair Stylist), Hui Wang (Stylist), Tamara Matthews (Handclapping), Bobby Floyd (Vocals), Kevin Oliver (Guitar (Electric)), Kevin Oliver (Handclapping), John Ford (Photography), Ron Miller (Guitar (Electric)), Ron Miller (Piano (Electric)), Ron Miller (Guitar Synth)
