Jazz Crusaders - Happy Again

I don't know anything about Jazz Crusaders, but i do know that titling an album Happy Again implies there was a period of time spent not being happy. I also know that it'll be relevant to things i've already said, and it will probably be perfectly lovely in spite of the mild reception it got at the time. Alright, C-saw, short version me. 

C: Jazz Crusaders were a Hard Bop group. In the 70s they turned to Funk and Fusion and dropped the Jazz. Trombonist Wayne Henderson left the group in 75, but ressurected the original name 20 years later for Happy Again. Critics pretty strongly agree that with a name like Jazz Crusaders, it's Hard Bop or get the hell out of here. That's disappointing, but on the positive side they were happy to hear Henderson's trombone solos again. 

B: Yep, told you so. Trepidations, Skip? 

E: i'm not sure i'm comfortable with the cover art. 

B: why not? 

E: well, i mean isn't it kind of racist? 

B: how are Robert Palmer Eyes racist? 

E: no, i mean the watermelon. 

B: how is a delicious fruit racist? I guess maybe it could bother you if you have a severe aversion to lycopine. You, my friend, have too many garbage ideas walking around in your brain. Focus on the contrast. You got an overexposed female face with copious amounts of purple eyeshadow and a chomped on slice of watermelon superimposed as her smile. Using watermelon as a nudge nudge wink wink way to stereorype an entire race and culture is definitely racist, so knock that off, but the only place that's happening right now is in your own brain. You just invented racism to feel bad about yourself so you could whitewash away that racist thought and end up being racist. Who taught you to do that garbage? I bet it was racist people. The real problem is the subtle critical implication that back in 1995 this album wasn't "black enough" to deserve more than middle ground equivocation. Too pop for the purists? That's just plain garbage in my opinion. You shouldn't sacrifice yourself for anybody. Even Des'ree got that one right. 

I suppose i could be wrong and it's the complete opposite. It could be a super snarkastic "look at the shit we gotta do to make a record. Ressurect our old name and play radio friendly schmooz." It certainly doesn't sound that way, and Sin-Drome Records is a pretty obscure, "fiercely independent" label specializing in Smooth Jazz. It's the home of all things Bobby Caldwell, Imagineered by Henry Marx. People were shocked Bobby Caldwell was white back in the 70s. To me that's the opposite of exploiting artists, but i have no clue what anyone involved was actually thinking other than a few of the non-involved founding members were a little ruffled by Henderson using the name again. 

Look, you can read it however you read it, but i think the clear context is "leave your baggage at the airport, let go of all those phony social restrictions other people use to push and put you down, and go enjoy what you enjoy." In other words, do what you gotta do, but also just be happy again. Now i'm certain i'm gonna love it. It'll be a little funky, a little smooth, some pop melodies, some carefree solos, a good time for everybody. In short, it'll be fun. Roll it. 

Yeah, see, what did i tell you? This is an afternoon concert in the park album, a little something for everybody. Some straight jams, some funk, a tasteful amount of sexy time, a proper Bop track or two, and everybody has a reason to smile.  I haven't heard their early stuff, but this sounds exactly like what i expect Henderson wanted. I think he's saying, you know what? Let it go. For one afternoon, just let it go, and be Happy Again. I'm happy again. Thanks, Jazz Crusaders, that was fun.

Finale