Rodney Franklin

Recorded in 1979 and released in 1980, the artist's second LP, You'll Never Know, is his finest and most essential release. This LP has one foot in electric fusion and crossover jazz and the other in acoustic postbop, but however you categorize the material, it is simply a fine jazz album. The record is best known for its single "The Groove," an infectious jazzfunk gem that enjoyed a lot of airplay on RB stations which is a rarity for any type of jazz instrumental. Most of the LP's other tracks lack the immediacy of "The Groove," but are still quite appealing. Franklin shines as both a composer and a soloist on pieces that range from the mysterious "The Watcher" and the McCoy Tynerish "Return" to the pensive "Journey." Although Franklin was only 21 when this album was recorded, he had already developed his own sound one that was influenced by Tyner and Herbie Hancock, as well as George Duke, Chick Corea, and Lonnie Liston Smith.