I Am Now

Liner Note Author: Justin Cober-Lake.Recording information: RCA's Studio C, New York City.Photographer: Nick Sangiamo.I Am Now is the album that introduced the late West Indies singer, songwriter, guitarist, and arranger Jon Lucien to American audiences. Issued by RCA in 1970, Lucien's meld of flawlessly executed jazz, pop, and theatrical song remains highly original and sophisticated. The material on I Am Now is unlike anything else in his catalog. Of the 11 songs here, only "Find Yourself a Lover" was penned by Lucien. With its swirling strings, bossa guitars, smooth soul vocals, and lithe Caribbean rhythms, the song was a precursor to the kind of genre blending that is so prevalent in the 21st century. I Am Now also includes then-current pop standards ("Who Will Buy" and Lalo Schifrin's "A Time for Us" from Romeo and Juliet) and a Bahamian take on the theme from The Sound of Music. Lucien tackles Cole Porter's "Love for Sale" with a startling arrangement in collaboration with Horace