Power Forward

• Artist: Wayman Tisdale
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1995
• Total Time: 58:54
• Genre: Jazz

Review

At this point, Wayman Tisdale was better known as a one of the NBA's tough power forwards, a position often described as the equivalent to hockey's enforcer, but on the jazz tip Tisdale's silky smooth and a purveyor of mature romanticism. He's not a virtuoso on any of the instruments he plays (yet) -- bass guitar, keyboards, or the synthesizer -- but records with an all-star cast of musicians who mask any shortcomings. In fact, Tisdale contributes more on his recordings than those done in the past by Idris Muhammad, Norman Connors, and others. He plays, sings, and produces in addition to writing six of the tracks. Brian Knight, the main producer, keeps everything hearts and flowers; two songs have female names as titles. A cucumber-cool aura makes "Circumstances" most arresting, and he employs the same plucky bass play on "Passion." Others that impress are "Danger Zone" and two with b-ball derived titles: "After the Game" and "Power Forward," the latter aggressively avant-garde, á la Albert Ayers and John Coltrane. A braying sax dominates "Inside Stuff," and Brian Knight's "You" is the meatiest vocal. ~ Andrew Hamilton, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Circumstance	J.R. Swinga	Wayman Tisdale	(4:26)
Passion	Kipper Jones, Kenneth Crouch	Wayman Tisdale	(5:11)
Jazz in You		Wayman Tisdale	(3:30)
Gina Kay	Wayman Tisdale, Art Dixie	Wayman Tisdale	(6:20)
Gabrielle	Wayman Tisdale, Art Dixie, Otto DAgnolo	Wayman Tisdale	(5:16)
Danger Zone	Tommy Organ	Wayman Tisdale	(4:31)
After the Game (Intro)		Wayman Tisdale	(:14)
After the Game	Wayman Tisdale, Art Dixie, Fred Jones	Wayman Tisdale	(5:11)
Power Forward	Wayman Tisdale	Wayman Tisdale	(4:27)
Back Home	Wayman Tisdale, Art Dixie	Wayman Tisdale	(5:48)
Inside Stuff	Art Dixie, Wayman Tisdale	Wayman Tisdale	(4:31)
You	Brian McKnight	Wayman Tisdale	(4:47)
Amazing Grace	Art Dixie	Wayman Tisdale	(4:42)

Credits

Tim "Flash" Mariner (Assistant Engineer), J.R. Swinga (Mixing), Dennis Wall (Engineer), Tim Cornwell (Percussion), Timbali Cornwell (Percussion), John Paris (Drums), Kenneth Crouch (Keyboards), Dawnn Lewis (Vocals (Background)), Wayman Tisdale (Vocals), Erick Labson (Mastering), William Patterson (Guitar), Craig Burbidge (Mixing), Wayman Tisdale (Synthesizer), Val Young (Vocal Arrangement), Wayman Tisdale (Bass), Wayman Tisdale (Drum Programming), Kenneth Crouch (Programming), Kenny Garrett (Sax (Soprano)), Steve McKeever (Executive Producer), Sonny Mediana (Artwork), Derrick Edmondson (Sax (Tenor)), Tim Nitz (Assistant Engineer), Robert John "Mutt" Lange (Assistant Engineer), J.R. Swinga (Drum Programming), Gabriel Sutter (Assistant Engineer), Kenneth Crouch (Synthesizer), Kipper Jones (Vocals), Flip Kirby (Drums), Mark Gruber (Assistant Engineer), John Paris (Drum Programming), Tommy O. (Guitar), Jackie Salway (Artwork), J.R. Swinga (Drums), J.R. Swinga (Engineer), Bobby Gonzales (Guitar (Acoustic)), J.R. Swinga (Vocals), Kipper Jones (Arranger), Brian McKnight (Producer), Bobby Gonzales (Guitar), Robert Brookins (Guitar), Kenneth Crouch (Arranger), Kenneth Crouch (Engineer), Eddie M. (Sax (Alto)), J.R. Swinga (Keyboards), Wayman Tisdale (Keyboards), Don Blackman (Keyboards), J.R. Swinga (Vocoder), Larry Funk (Engineer), Alex Alessandroni (Keyboards), Booker T. Jones (Mixing), Marcus Miller (Bass), Tommy O. (Producer), Derek Allen (Bass), Freddy Jones (Vocals), Tom Braxton (Sax (Tenor)), Val Young (Vocals), Steve McKeever (Liner Notes), Kenneth Crouch (Drum Programming), Bruce Walker (Executive Producer), Wayman Tisdale (Producer), J.R. Swinga (Producer), Tom Braxton (Sax (Soprano)), Robert Brookins (Piano), Kenneth Crouch (Producer), Kipper Jones (Producer), J.R. Swinga (Programming), Chris Wood (Engineer), Aaron Rapoport (Photography), Don Blackman (Synthesizer), Larry Quateman (Assistant Engineer), Art Dixie (Keyboards), Kenny Garrett (Sax (Alto)), Derrick Edmondson (Sax (Alto)), Lenny White (Drums)