Just Chillin' Out
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Album Summary
"Just Chillin' Out" was Bernard Wright's debut album, released in 1981 on GRP Records — and honey, when this young cat stepped out of the New York funk scene, folks knew they were hearing something special. Produced by Jay King, the album captured Wright at the raw, brilliant beginning of his journey, a teenage keyboard prodigy laying down his vision of funk and jazz fusion at a time when the music world was being reshaped by synthesizers and soul. Recorded in the early 1980s against the backdrop of a New York R&B scene that was hungry, restless, and reaching for something new, this album announced Bernard Wright as a composer and keyboardist of genuine, undeniable gifts.
Reception
- The album achieved modest commercial success within R&B and funk circles, earning Wright recognition as a rising force in the early 1980s funk landscape.
- "Just Chillin' Out" connected deeply with funk and jazz fusion audiences, though it did not cross over into mainstream pop territory in a significant way.
Significance
- "Just Chillin' Out" stands as a testament to the synthesizer revolution reshaping funk in the post-disco era, with Wright weaving technology and groove together in a way that felt both forward-thinking and deeply rooted in tradition.
- Wright's keyboard virtuosity throughout this album embodied the sophisticated, technology-forward approach to funk that defined the most exciting corners of early 1980s New York R&B.
- As a debut statement from a teenage prodigy, the album holds a meaningful place in the lineage of funk, representing the moment a genuine talent announced himself to the world.
Samples
- Just Chillin' Out — sampled by numerous hip-hop and funk producers drawn to its infectious groove, making it one of the more sought-after sources from the early 1980s New York funk catalog.
- Bread Sandwiches — has attracted the attention of hip-hop producers mining early 1980s funk for raw, distinctive rhythmic and melodic material.
Tracklist
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A Just Chillin' Out 118
3:44
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B Bread Sandwiches 115
3:50
Artist Details
Bernard Wright was a teenage prodigy out of Queens, New York who burst onto the scene in the early 1980s with a sound so fresh it practically rewrote the rules — blending jazz-funk, R&B, and early hip-hop influences into something that made heads turn and feet move simultaneously, with his 1981 debut album Nard showcasing a keyboard virtuosity that had him standing shoulder to shoulder with the greats before he could even vote. He became a significant figure in the funk and soul underground, his work with artists like Mtume and later his deep influence on the New York hip-hop community — where his records were sampled heavily — cementing his legacy as one of those musicians whose fingerprints are all over the culture even when his name doesn't always get the shine it deserves.
