Signature
Patrice Rushen · 1997
50 min · 10 tracks · jazz
A lush blend of smooth jazz and soul, enveloping listeners in warm melodies and intricate rhythms.
Top tracks — play these first
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Almost Home — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its smooth melody and intricate harmonies, showcasing Rushen's skill as both a pianist and songwriter.
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Sweetest Taboo — A reimagined take on Sade's classic, Rushen's version employs rich instrumental layers that highlight her jazz influences while maintaining the original's emotional depth.
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Hurry Up This Way Again — This track features vibrant grooves and dynamic arrangements, embodying the album's essence by marrying upbeat jazz elements with soulful vocals.
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Oneness — The title track engages with spiritual themes through its layered instrumentation and heartfelt delivery, marking a significant moment of introspection in the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalThe album showcases strong arrangements and musicianship, but it doesn't significantly redefine its genre.
What we noticed
- The album features intricate arrangements with layered instrumentation, often blending smooth jazz with elements of soul.
- The first half of the album maintains a consistent mid-tempo groove, while the latter half introduces more varied tempos and dynamics.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
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
- steady mid-tempo groove exploration
- heartfelt vocals for reflective moments
- melodic arrangements for easy listening
- joyful vibes for uplifting moods
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of high-energy tracks
- prefer immediate, punchy songs
Where this album fits
- Career context
- By the time Patrice Rushen released 'Signature' in 1997, she was already an established artist known for her fusion of jazz, soul, and R&B. This album came a decade after her breakthrough hit 'Forget Me Nots', showcasing her continued evolution as a musician and composer. It marked her return to recording after a period focused on production and songwriting for other artists.
- Stylistic neighbors
- George Duke· Chaka Khan· Herbie Hancock
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Almost Home 4:25
- 2 Days Gone By 5:04
- 3 Sweetest Taboo 5:21
- 4 Sneaky Pete 4:11
- 5 Softly 6:10
- 6 Hurry Up This Way Again 6:02
- 7 L'Esprit De Joie (The Spirit of Joy) 4:40
- 8 Wise Ol' Souls 4:31
- 9 Oneness 5:00
- 10 Arrival 4:33
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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