RIP Joe Sample

I just read this evening about the death of keyboardist Joe Sample at the age of 75. Here are a couple of examples of his versatility and mastery.

As reported by his hometown paper, the Houston Chronicle, Sample started his career as a bop pianist. He was one of the founding members in the early 1960s of the Jazz Crusaders. In the early 70's, the group shortened its name to the Crusaders and produced a string of popular funk-influenced jazz albums. One of my favorite Crusaders albums was 1976's Free as the Wind. Check out Joe the funkmaster on Clavinet, Rhodes, and synth on the track "Feel It."

But Joe Sample was, at heart, a pianist. You can hear the love in his touch on this arrangement of "It Happens Everyday," a slice of easygoing jazz that's literally as smooth as butter.

Joe Sample leaves behind a rich musical legacy that straddles two great eras in jazz history. Sorry to see you go, Joe.