Feels So Good

Reception

Jason Ankeny of AllMusic stated "The aptly titled and much-sampled Feels So Good represents the creative apex of Grover Washington, Jr.'s sublime electric funk sound. Its shimmering, soulful grooves refute the argument that smooth jazz is little more than mere ambience, combining expert playing and intricate songwriting to create music that is both compelling and comforting. Arranger Bob James is in top form here, creating the spacious, rich milieus that are his trademark, but regardless of the name above the title, bassist Louis Johnson is the real star of the show. His supple rhythms percolate like coffee, adding oomph to the bottom of highlights "It Feels So Good" and "Hydra" while Washington's cream-and-sugar soprano sax solos soar over the top".

Track listing

"The Sea Lion" – (Bob James) – 5:57

"Moonstreams" – (Grover Washington Jr.) – 5:55

"Knucklehead" – (Washington) – 7:53

"It Feels So Good" – (Ralph MacDonald, William Salter) – 8:14

"Hydra" – (Washington) – 9:08

Personnel

Grover Washington Jr. – soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone

Bob James – acoustic piano, electric piano, synthesizers, arrangements

Eric Gale – guitars

Gary King – bass (1, 2, 3)

Louis Johnson – bass (4, 5)

Steve Gadd – drums (1, 2)

Jimmy Madison – drums (3)

Kenneth "Spider Webb" Rice – drums (4, 5)

Ralph MacDonald – percussion

Sid Weinberg – oboe, English horn

Brass Section

Alan Raph and Dave Taylor – bass trombone

Barry Rogers – trombone

Randy Brecker, Jon Faddis, John Frosk and Bob Millikan – trumpet, flugelhorn

String Section

Seymour Barab and Charles McCracken – cello

Alfred Brown and Emanuel Vardi – viola

Lewis Eley, Max Ellen, Barry Finclair, Emanuel Green, Harry Lookofsky, Guy Lumia, David Nadien and Raoul Poliakin – violin

Production

Creed Taylor – producer

Rudy Van Gelder – engineer

Rene Schumacher – design

Alen MacWeeney – photography