Patrice Rushen 'Now' 2xLP

Strut continue their Patrice Rushedn original album reissue series with the definitive edition of her influential classic Now from 1984. Released after the global success of 'Straight From The Heart’ and the huge hit ‘Forget Me Nots’, Now stripped back the arrangements and explored a new sonic palette, combining top level musicianship with the evolving studio technology of the mid-‘80s.

“By this time, I had built a little home studio,” explains Patrice, “and the new synthesizers and drum machines opened a lot of possibilities. A lot of the pieces on ‘Now’ started off as demos based on these instruments and we just went with it quite naturally, adding guitar, bass and drums.” The album continued Patrice’s unerring skill in fusing intricate jazz musicianship with infectious grooves.

The album marked the end of Rushen’s tenure with Elektra before a move to Arista and remains a much-referenced part of her career. “I think it was a great representation of where we were at the time and it may have been a little bit ahead of its time”, she reflects. Famously, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis had become fans, attending her live shows, and, allegedly, the feel of Janet Jackson’s debut album Control two years later was heavily influenced by Rushen’s approach on Now.