Is Next Exit a good place to start with Grover Washington, Jr.?

Yes, Next Exit is recommended as a starting point for new Grover Washington, Jr. listeners. A smooth blend of jazz grooves and soulful melodies, showcasing Washington's signature saxophone artistry. Released in 1992, Next Exit marked Grover Washington, Jr.'s return to the music scene after a brief hiatus following his 1987 album, Time Out of Mind. This album came during a period where he was experimenting with contemporary jazz sounds while maintaining his roots in traditional jazz instrumentation.

Who is Next Exit for?

Next Exit works well if you're into smooth melodies for relaxation, warm atmosphere for gatherings and steady pacing for background listening.

How many songs are on Next Exit?

Next Exit has 11 tracks, running approximately 51 minutes.

Next Exit

Grover Washington, Jr. · 1992

51 min · 11 tracks · jazz

A smooth blend of jazz grooves and soulful melodies, showcasing Washington's signature saxophone artistry.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Take Five (Take Another Five) Start here — This reinterpretation of Dave Brubeck's classic showcases Washington's ability to infuse traditional jazz with contemporary flair, making it a standout opening track.
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Your Love — Featuring lush arrangements and heartfelt melodies, this track exemplifies Washington's skill at blending jazz with romantic themes, appealing to a wide audience.
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I Miss Home — This piece combines nostalgic undertones with intricate saxophone lines, capturing the emotional depth that characterizes much of Washington's work.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

46 /100

Foothills

Higher than 10% of albums we've rated

The album blends smooth jazz elements with solid craftsmanship, though it doesn't significantly stand out in its genre.

What we noticed

The album features a consistent use of smooth saxophone melodies layered over rhythmic grooves, creating a relaxed atmosphere throughout.
Each track maintains a mid-tempo pace, with the majority featuring extended instrumental solos that showcase Washington's improvisational skills.
Several tracks incorporate subtle electronic elements and backing vocals, but the focus remains on the saxophone as the lead instrument.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 5/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

smooth melodies for relaxation
warm atmosphere for gatherings
steady pacing for background listening
inviting sound for late evenings

Maybe skip if you

seekers of high-energy tracks
prefer instant gratification tunes

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — The album solidified Washington's status in the smooth jazz movement after a hiatus.
Themes: nostalgic saxophone· romantic jazz arrangements· contemporary jazz fusion
Career context: Released in 1992, Next Exit marked Grover Washington, Jr.'s return to the music scene after a brief hiatus following his 1987 album, Time Out of Mind. This album came during a period where he was experimenting with contemporary jazz sounds while maintaining his roots in traditional jazz instrumentation.
Stylistic neighbors: Bob James· David Sanborn· Kenny G