The 2020 album Gruv Kid by Justin Lee Schultz features a massive lineup of established jazz legends and talented family members.
Core Musicians
Justin Lee Schultz: Piano, keyboards, guitar, and talkbox
Julius Schultz (Father): Bass and guitar
Jamie-Leigh Schultz (Sister): Drums
Featured Guest Artists
Bob James: Piano (on "Angela")
Gerald Albright: Saxophone (on "Just In")
Jonathan Butler: Guitar and vocals (on "Over S.A.")
Najee: Flute and saxophone (on "African Chant")
Brandon "Taz" Niederauer: Guitar (on "Back of the Moon")
Michael Pipoquinha: Bass (on "Quarantine")
Pieces of a Dream: Jazz-fusion group (on "Just In")
FunkYardX: Horn section/band (on "Do I Do")
Additional Personnel
Keyboards: Jeff Lorber, James Lloyd, and Stephen Johnson
Bass: Alex Al, Brandon Rose, Justin Raines, Ben Shepard, and Frank Brunot
Drums: Harvey Mason, Gary Novak, and Curtis Harmon
Guitar: Paul Jackson Jr., Tony Pulizzi, Chris George, and Devine Mitchell
Horns/Flute: David Mann (Horns) and Kim Waters
Vocals: Natalie Rungan
Key Album Details
A blend of contemporary jazz, smooth jazz, and funk, heavily influenced by Stevie Wonder and Bob James.
The project was a family affair, featuring his father Julius Schultz (bass/production) and his 16-year-old sister Jamie-Lee Schultz (drums).
The album reached the Top 10 on the Smooth Jazz Top 100 charts shortly after its release.
Full Tracklist
The album consists of 11 tracks with a total runtime of approximately 49 minutes:
African Chant (feat. Najee)
Angela (Theme from Taxi) (feat. Bob James)
Do I Do
Over S.A. (feat. Jonathan Butler)
Gruv Kid
Miracle
Just In (feat. Gerald Albright & Pieces of a Dream)
Better Days Ahead
Color Blind
Back of the Moon (feat. Brandon "Taz" Niederauer)
Quarantine (feat. Michael Pipoquinha)
