Ronnie Laws
Ronnie Laws is an American jazz, smooth jazz, and jazz-fusion saxophonist, singer, and composer born on October 3, 1950, in Houston, Texas. He is the younger brother of jazz flutist Hubert Laws and jazz vocalist Eloise Laws, and the older brother of Debra Laws, coming from a musical family as the fifth of eight children.
Laws began playing saxophone at age 11 and attended Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, for two years. In 1971, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue music professionally.
He first performed with trumpeter Hugh Masekela, then joined Earth, Wind & Fire in 1972, contributing saxophone and flute to their album Last Days and Time. After 18 months, he went solo, releasing his debut album Pressure Sensitive in 1975 on Blue Note Records, which peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart.
Laws' 1976 album Fever reached No. 13 on the same chart, while 1977's Friends & Strangers hit No. 13 and earned gold certification from the RIAA. Follow-ups like Flame (1978, No. 16) and Every Generation (1980, No. 4) solidified his success in soul and jazz charts.
He worked extensively with family, including Hubert Laws' albums In the Beginning (1974) and others, and Debra Laws' Very Special (1981). Notable sessions include Ramsey Lewis, Sister Sledge, Deniece Williams, Jeff Lorber, and later Guru and Brian Culbertson.
Artists like Boney James and Norman Brown cite Laws as an influence for his soulful tenor sax sound in jazz-funk and smooth jazz. Active from the 1970s into the 2020s, he has over 20 albums, with charted singles like "Every Generation" (No. 12 R&B, 1980).
Fever
Written-By – R. Laws 4:30
A2 Fever
Written-By – E. Cooley, J. Davenport 3:24
A3 All The Time
Written-By – W. Jeffrey 4:00
A4 Stay Still (And Let Me Love You)
Written-By – A. Mardin, J. Joseph 7:24
B1 Strugglin'
Written-By – W. Murray 4:08
B2 Captain Midnite
Written-By – R. Laws 2:58
B3 Karmen
Written-By – R. Laws 3:47
B4 Night Breeze
Written-By – B. Lyle 6:29
B5 From Ronnie With Love
Written-By – R. Laws 4:22
Label: Blue Note – BN-LA628-G
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1976
Genre: R&B Jazz, Funk, Soul
Style: Jazz-Funk, Funk
Ronnie Laws' 1976 album Fever is a highly-regarded jazz-funk masterpiece, showcasing his powerful saxophone over smooth grooves and tight rhythms, blending soulful fusion with energetic funk, featuring standout tracks like "Captain Midnight," "Let's Keep It Together," and the experimental "From Ronnie With Love," solidifying his distinct sound with heavy guitar, lush keys, and strong grooves, making it a key release in '70s fusion.
Pure Jazz Funk, Soul Jazz Fusion, featuring smooth, cinematic grooves and high-octane funk. Produced by Wayne Henderson (of The Crusaders), giving it a classic 70s feel with similarities to The Crusaders' sound. Characterized by dripping electric guitar, dreamy textures, solid rhythm sections, and synthesizer flourishes.
Standout Tracks:
"Captain Midnight": A smooth, late-night groove.
"Let's Keep It Together": Energetic funk with tight rhythms.
"Stay (And Let Me Love You)" / "Karmen" / "Night Breeze": Slow, groovy swells with dreamy guitar.
"From Ronnie With Love": An experimental, free-jazz piece with an intense sax solo, showcasing his jazzier side.
Features top-tier players like Marlon "The Magician" on guitar and members of Pleasure/The Crusaders on keys and bass (Wilton Felder, Joe Sample).
Praised for balancing musical integrity with commercial appeal and representing a creative peak in Laws' early career before he leaned more towards 'sophistifunk'.
Overall, Fever is considered a must-have for jazz-funk fans, offering a vibrant mix of infectious grooves, sophisticated arrangements, and powerful saxophone work that captures the essence of mid-70s jazz fusion.
Pressure Sensitive
Percussion [Flexitone], Congas – Joe Clayton
Written-By – Ronnie Laws, William Jeffery 4:52
A2 Momma
Vocals – Side Effect
Written-By – Roland Bautista 4:20
A3 Never Be The Same
Electric Piano – Joe Sample
Synthesizer [String Ensemble] – Jerry Peters
Written-By – Mike Cavanaugh, Roland Bautista, Ronnie Laws 4:23
A4 Tell Me Something Good
Clavinet – Joe Sample, Mike Cavanaugh
Electric Piano – Mike Cavanaugh
Synthesizer [Arp] – Jerry Peters
Written-By – Stevie Wonder 4:50
B1 Nothing To Lose
Guitar – John W. Rowin, Jr.
Piano, Clavinet – Joe Sample
Written-By – Ronnie Laws 4:54
B2 Tidal Wave
Drums – Michael Willars
Electric Bass [Fender] – Wilton Felder
Guitar – John W. Rowin, Jr.
Synthesizer [String Ensemble], Piano – Jerry Peters
Written-By – William Jeffery 4:08
B3 Why Do You Laugh At Me
Piano – Joe Sample
Synthesizer [String Ensemble] – Jerry Peters
Written-By – Wayne Henderson 3:55
B4 Mis' Mary's Place
Piano, Clavinet – Joe Sample
Written-By – Ronnie Laws 3:32
Label: Blue Note – BN-LA452-G
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1975
Genre: R&B Jazz
Style: Jazz-Funk, Jazz Fusion
Ronnie Laws' 1975 debut, Pressure Sensitive, is widely hailed as a jazz-funk masterpiece and a cornerstone of the 70s funk-fusion scene, featuring killer grooves, standout tracks like "Always There" and "Mis' Mary's Place," a brilliant Earth, Wind & Fire meets Crusaders vibe with stellar musicians (Joe Sample, Wilton Felder), and a blend of soulful sax and funky clavinet/Rhodes, making it essential listening for funk/jazz fans despite some critics finding its production slightly dated.
A quintessential jazz-funk album, blending smooth jazz with deep funk rhythms, it boasts legendary session players like Joe Sample, Wilton Felder, Wayne Henderson (producer), and Roland Bautista, giving it a rich, collaborative feel.
The album aptures the essence of the 70s with prominent clavinet, Fender Rhodes, and soulful, yet funky, saxophone work.
Praised for maintaining high energy and quality throughout, with standout mellower grooves like "Why Do You Laugh At Me".
Many listeners and reviewers consider it a "masterpiece," a "must-have," and one of the best debuts in jazz-funk.
While universally praised for its funk, some find the sound (especially the synth) very '70s, and its production less deep than contemporaries like Donald Byrd's work on Blue Note, though still highly regarded.
In essence, Pressure Sensitive is a landmark album, celebrated for its infectious grooves, top-tier musicianship, and status as a high point in 70s jazz-funk fusion.