Jon Lucien is known as one of the most focused and emotional balladeers to ever step in front of a microphone, but it’s his soothing baritone voice that really sets him apart from the rest. On Rashida, Lucien creates an amalgamation of many cultures with his Caribbean folk meets r&b soul/ jazz infused orchestral arrangements. His emotionally charged intensely personal songs are as sublime they are intimate, and set a cinematic breezy feeling that few soul singers can conjure so perfectly. Like many great soul records, this is ultimately an album about romantic love, but the romance here is a transcendent, spiritual force. Romance as a metaphor for the love of God or the love of all humanity, Rashida is one of Lucien’s best-loved albums and would be essential listening to those who are so amorously inclined.
– Michael Friedman
Recommended – Full Listen
A1 Kuenda
A2 Would You Believe In Me
A3 Lady Love
A4 Luella
A5 Shana
A6 Satan
B1 Rashida
B2 The War Song
B3 Esperanza
B4 Love Everlasting
B5 Zenzile
Arranged By – Jon Lucien
Baritone Saxophone – Pepper Adams
Bass Trombone – Paul Faulise
Cello – Charles McCracken, George Ricci, Gloria Lanzerone, Harvey Shapiro, Seymour Barab
Clarinet – Dave Tofani
Concertmaster [Violin] – Norman Carr
Conductor [Orchestra], Arranged By [Orchestra] – Dave Grusin
Congas, Percussion – Frank Malabe
Design – Frank Mulvey
Design [Liner Design] – Craig DeCamps
Drums – Eric Harrigan, Jr.
Electric Piano, Chimes, Percussion – Dave Grusin
Engineer – Jim Crotty
Engineer [Assistant] – Tom Brown, Jr.
Engineer [Mixing] – Jim Crotty
Harp – Corky Hale
Oboe – Lew Del Gatto
Photography By [Cover] – Bob Daugherty
Producer – Larry Rosen, Shep Meyers
Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Piccolo Flute – Morty Lewis
Trombone – Bill Watrous, Garnett Brown, Wayne Andre
Trumpet – Burt Collins, Joe Shepley, Lloyd Michels, Marvin Stamm
Viola – Ann Barak, Harry Zaratzian, Jean Dupouy, Julien C. Barber
Violin – Alvin Rogers, Doris Carr, Fred Buldrini, Gerald Tarack, Guy Lumia, Harry Glickman, John Pintavalle, Joseph Goodman, Max Hollander, Ray Kunicki, Ruth Buffington
Violin [Solo] – Noel Pointer
Vocals, Guitar, Bass – Jon Lucien