Wilton Lewis Felder (August 31, 1940 – September 27, 2015) was an American saxophone and bass player, and is best known as a founding member of the Jazz Crusaders, later known as The Crusaders.
Felder was born in Houston, Texas and studied music at Texas Southern University. Felder, Wayne Henderson, Joe Sample, and Stix Hooper founded their group while in high school in Houston. The Jazz Crusaders evolved from a straight-ahead jazz combo into a pioneering jazz-rock fusion group, with a definite soul music influence. Felder worked with the original group for over thirty years, and continued to work in its later versions, which often featured other founding members.
Felder also worked as a West Coast studio musician, mostly playing electric bass, for various soul and R&B musicians, and was one of the in-house bass players for Motown Records, when the record label opened operations in Los Angeles in the early 1970s. He played on recordings by the Jackson 5 such as “I Want You Back”, “ABC” and “The Love You Save”, as well as recordings by Marvin Gaye including “Let’s Get It On” and “I Want You”. He also played bass for soft rock groups like Seals and Crofts. Also of note were his contributions to the John Cale album Paris 1919, Steely Dan’s Pretzel Logic (1974), and Billy Joel’s Piano Man and Streetlife Serenade albums. He was one of three bass players on Randy Newman’s Sail Away (1972) and Joan Baez’ Diamonds & Rust. Felder also anchored albums from Grant Green, Joni Mitchell and Michael Franks.
His album Secrets, which prominently featured Bobby Womack on vocals, reached No. 77 in the UK Albums Chart in 1985. The album featured the minor hit, “(No Matter How High I Get) I’ll Still be Looking Up to You”, sung by Womack and Alltrinna Grayson.
Felder played a King Super 20 tenor sax with a metal 105/0 Berg Larsen mouthpiece. He also used Yamaha saxes. He played a Fender Telecaster Bass, and also played Aria bass guitars.
Felder died in 2015 at his home in Whittier, California from multiple myeloma.[1] He was 75. (wikipedia)
This is his 7th solo album
It is strange that none of tenor saxophonist Wilton Felder’s solo releases are very significant, for he was an important part of the Jazz Crusaders’ (and later Crusaders’) sound. On his derivative and poppish date, Felder emulates Grover Washington, Jr. (but without the sincerity and drive), the electronic background is propelled by a drum machine, and there are many simple rhythmic vamps disguised as “originals.” Ironically, Felder is the least important element to the dance date; the drum machine rules. (by Scott Yanow)
A nearly perfect Smooth Jazz alum from this period of music !
Personnel:
Wali Ali (guitar on 07. – 09.)
Wilton Felder (saxophone, bass)
Rob Mullins (keybopards on 02., 03. + 09.)
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Mayouto Correa (percussion on 05.)
Lenny Williams (vocals on 06.)
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background vocals:
Augie Johnson – KeEsha Bell – Phillip Ingram
Tracklist:
01. Feel So Much Better (Gill) 4.59
02. Night Moves (Felder) 5.34
03. Southern Pearl (Felder) 5.20
04. If I Knew Then, What I Know Now (Graham/Glass) 3.52
05. Sugar Loaf (Felder) 4.45
06. Love Steps (Ingram/Henderson) 5.53
07. Out Of Sight, Not Out Of Mind (Mabry) 3.59
08. Since I Fell For You (Johnson) 5.00
09. Music Of The Night (Hart/Stilgue/Webber) 6.28