Pizzazz

Pizzazz is the fifth album by American singer Patrice Rushen, released in 1979.

While she was attacked for leaving the jazz genre, Rushen was able to get a good fan base with an R&B/Pop audience. Rushen's profile in the R&B world continued to increase with Pizzazz, her second album for Elektra Records. Rushen drew on such influences as Earth, Wind & Fire, Minnie Riperton, Stevie Wonder, and The Emotions. Rushen was able get the R&B lover's attention with songs such as the funky opener "Let the Music Take Me," the soulful ballad "Settle for My Love," and the perky "Keepin' Faith in Love." Pizzazz received plenty of attacks from jazz critics, who accused Rushen of being a traitor, but from an R&B/Pop perspective the album is considered one of Rushen's most rewarding and essential albums.

Reception
The Boston Globe called Pizzazz a "really a good disco album, with a few non-disco numbers to break the monotony... The non-disco cuts are slower funk tunes which often recall Earth, Wind and Fire."

Pizzazz was her second highest-charting album, reaching #39 in 1979. It features the hit single "Haven't You Heard." The single soared to the top of R&B radio playlists and is among Rushen's biggest hits.

Personnel

 * Patrice Rushen – lead vocals (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7), backing vocals (1-7), electric piano (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7), synth solo (1), percussion (1, 3, 5, 6, 7), acoustic piano (2, 4, 5, 7, 8), drums (3, 6), tambourine (4, 8), clavinet (6); horn, string and vocal arrangements
 * Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar (1, 4, 8)
 * Marlo Henderson – guitar (1, 2, 7)
 * Al McKay – guitar (2)
 * Wah Wah Watson – guitar (4, 6, 8), backing vocals (6)
 * Wali Ali – guitar (5, 7)
 * Freddie Washington – bass (1-8), acoustic guitar (3), drums (6), percussion (6)
 * Leon "Ndugu" Chancler – drums (1, 4, 8)
 * James Gadson – drums (2)
 * Melvin Webb – congas (1), drums (5, 7)
 * Bill Summers – percussion (2)
 * Lynn Davis – backing vocals (1, 3-8)
 * Roy Galloway – backing vocals (1, 3, 6, 7)
 * Josie James – backing vocals (1, 4, 5, 7, 8)
 * Pauline Wilson – backing vocals (2)
 * Syreeta Wright – backing vocals (2)
 * Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals (4, 6, 8)
 * D. J. Rogers – lead vocals (6)

Handclaps
 * Tony Lewis
 * Charles Mims Jr.
 * Phil Moores
 * Chip Orlando
 * Larry Robinson
 * Patrice Rushen
 * Freddie Washington

Horns / Horn Contractors
 * Gerald Albright – reeds
 * William Green – reeds
 * Clay Lawrey – trombone, baritone
 * Maurice Spears – bass trombone
 * Oscar Brashear – trumpet, flugelhorn
 * Raymond Lee Brown – trumpet, flugelhorn

Strings
 * Charles Veal Jr. – concertmaster (1, 3-8)
 * Gerald Vinci – concertmaster (2)
 * Rosemary McLean – contractor
 * Marilyn Baker, Harry Bluestone, Ronald Cooper, Endre Granat, William Henderson, Carl LaMagna, Robert Lipsett, Nils Oliver, Jerome Reisler, Art Royval, Terudo Shoenbrun, Robert Sushell, Barbara Thomason, Charles Veal Jr. and Kenneth Yerke – string performers

Production

 * Patrice Rushen – producer, executive producer
 * Reggie Andrews – producer
 * Charles Mims Jr. – producer
 * Peter Chaikin – engineer
 * Chris Gordon – assistant engineer
 * Phil Moores – assistant engineer
 * Chip Orlando – assistant engineer
 * F. Byron Clark – remixing
 * Chris Bellman – mastering
 * Allen Zentz Mastering (San Clemente, California) – mastering location
 * Ron Coro – art direction, design
 * Norman Seeff – front cover and sleeve photography
 * Moshe Brakha – back cover photography