Album Liner Notes
Players
Players is a clean quartet snapshot from the same ecosystem as Champion and Storytime: Lavitz on keys, Henderson on guitar, Smith on drums, and Berlin on bass, with writing credits spread across the band.
Overview
This is one of the entries where discography hygiene matters as much as listening. The quartet is consistent across the album, and the writing splits tell you who brought which tune to the session.
The final track title is a known collector footnote: Discogs uses '20.000 Players' as the catalog title for the composition credit, while a US-vinyl contributor note on the same master page reports the label text '20,000 Prayers' on their pressing. Both point to the same slot in the program.
Sonically, the record belongs to the late-1980s Passport Jazz line that was still willing to be angular and electric. It is not background fusion; it is a band record with serious players in every chair.
Quick Snapshot
- Released in 1987 on Passport Jazz as PJ 88014 (US LP), PJCD 88014 (CD), PJ88014 (Germany LP), and related international Passport Jazz numbers.
- Discogs composer metadata credits T Lavitz on three titles, Scott Henderson on two, a Steve Smith/Dave Wilczewski collaboration on '50/50,' and Jeff Berlin on 'Freight Train Shuffle' and the eight-minute closer titled '20.000 Players' on CD and many LPs.
- US vinyl copies documented on Discogs were mastered at Future Disc, with side one tracked at Hop Singh's and side two at Bijou Studios.
Jeff as writer, not only sideman
Berlin receives composer credit on 'Freight Train Shuffle' and the closing track per Discogs release metadata.
Quartet chemistry
Lavitz, Henderson, Smith, and Berlin mirror other high-energy fusion sessions from the same circle.
Title variant on the closer
Collectors report alternate wording on some US vinyl labels for the last track versus the Discogs master title.
Listen For
Freight Train Shuffle
Jeff Berlin's shuffle writing credit sits in the middle of the program and showcases the quartet groove engine.
Between Coming And Going
Shares its title with a Lavitz solo tune from Storytime, but here it is a Lavitz composition in the Players band context.
20.000 Players
The eight-minute closer is credited to Berlin on Discogs and functions as the album's expansive last word.
Track Listing
- A1. Crystal — 4:22
- A2. Valentine — 5:28
- A3. 50/50 — 4:35
- A4. Vehicle — 4:19
- B1. Freight Train Shuffle — 5:27
- B2. Between Coming And Going — 5:26
- B3. The Creeping Terror — 5:44
- B4. 20.000 Players — 6:42
Musicians
- T Lavitz: keyboards
- Scott Henderson: guitar
- Steve Smith: drums
- Jeff Berlin: bass
Technical Credits
- Label: Passport Jazz / Passport Records, Inc., 1987 (US LP PJ 88014)
- Recorded at Hop Singh's (side one) and Bijou Studios (side two) per US LP credits on Discogs
- Mastered at Future Disc (US LP runouts)
- US distribution/marketing: JEM Records, Inc. (cited on Discogs US LP)
- CD manufacturing/marketing: Bellaphon (Germany CD PJCD 88014 on Discogs)