Joe Sample and Randy Crawford Celebrate 33 Years of Making Music

Certain exceptional musical matches are unquestionably meant to be. Such was the case when ubiquitous keyboard journeyman Joe Sample arrived at the studio to lend his distinctive piano touch to singer extraordinaire Randy Crawford’s debut album Everything Must Change.

It happened in 1976, one of the finest pairings in contemporary jazz was born.

Off and on through the years, these soul mates have made sweet music together - from the now classic “Street Life” which Randy sang with Joe’s group The Crusaders to Randy’s own album “Now We May Begin,” for which Joe was a co-producer. These stellar guest appearances eventually led to the inevitable: a duo project as co-headliners.

March 24th will see the release of Joe Sample and Randy Crawford’s second album of collaborations titled “No Regrets.”

It’s the much anticipated follow-up to their first such collection in 2006, the Grammy nominated “Feeling Good,” which peaked at #3 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart and paved the way for a successful string of tours around the world.

“No Regrets” promises to lean in more of a soulful direction, featuring both remakes of R&B classics such as Aretha Franklin’s “Today I Sing The Blues” and The Staple Singers’ “Respect Yourself”. The album also includes other songs from across the eras, done in a jazzy-soul style, such as the legendary Edith Piaf track “No Regrets” and contemporary pop singer/songwriter Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel.”

“Randy and I wanted to keep this recording on more of the rhythm and blues side,” said Sample. “As always, we wanted to pick songs that nobody else records.”

Smooth Jazz Network