| Funky Jazz |
26th RECORDING WE GOT THIS AS THEY COUNT DOWN TO THEIR 50th ANNIVERSARY
After 50 Years, Pieces Of A Dream Still Brings the Groove, and the Joy.
For some, a band becomes part of the soundtrack of your life. For me, that band was Pieces Of A Dream. I still remember spinning their debut album Pieces of a Dream on my first radio show in Europe, Des Bulles dans le Café. It was the early ’80s, and the energy, the optimism, the sheer joie de vivre pouring from those grooves was unmistakable. That spirit has never left them.
Now, nearly five decades later, the trailblazing contemporary jazz group is set to release their sixth album with Shanachie Records, a label known for housing some of the finest smooth jazz musicians in the industry. Since signing with Shanachie in 2013, Pieces Of A Dream, affectionately known as POD, has only deepened its legacy.
“What’s the point of doing what we do if we can’t bring joy and unity to people?” asks Curtis Harmon, drummer and founding member of the group that has long dominated the jazz charts. “Let’s be real—it’s fulfilling to see people come together, smiling, dancing, truly enjoying the moment.” Pianist James Lloyd, his longtime creative partner and co-founder of POD, echoes the sentiment: “Our mission as composers and performers has always been to use the power of music to bring people together and give them a good time.”
Their new album, We Got This, carries all the DNA of Pieces Of A Dream. But there’s a vulnerability woven into these compositions, a kind of emotional resonance that sets it apart. At its core, the album is about brotherhood, resilience, and an unwavering love for music. “The title has a special meaning,” Lloyd reveals. “It’s a nod to Curtis and Tony [Watson]. I was going through some things while we were making this record, and I couldn’t contribute as much as I normally do. They lifted me up. I’ll always be grateful for that.”
This is more than a band, it’s a musical brotherhood. And that connection radiates through every track. It’s no wonder that, as they approach their 50th anniversary in 2026, Pieces Of A Dream continues to captivate audiences with the same fire that caught the attention of Grover Washington, Jr. when they were just teenagers. Their résumé speaks for itself: over three million albums sold, soundtrack credits on Spike Lee’s School Daze, and collaborations with icons like James Brown, Miles Davis, and Count Basie.
Listening to We Got This, I’m reminded of the production finesse of MFSB, the legendary Philly soul collective. Where MFSB gave their horn sections a near-supernatural presence, POD has always had a signature blend of bass and keyboards that feels equally transcendent. The arrangements on this record hint at the influence of jazz greats like Mike Stern, all while remaining true to their unique position at the crossroads of jazz, smooth, and funk.
“This is probably our most personal album to date,” Lloyd says. And it shows. After so many years of success, there’s no pressure to chase trends, only freedom to create.
“Every musician needs that one thing that makes their sound instantly recognizable,” says Harmon, a devoted Philadelphia Eagles fan and pool shark who admits he’d be a sports agent or pro player if he weren’t behind a drum kit. For him, the Pieces Of A Dream sound is Jazz Funk, an infectious fusion of funk, R&B, and smooth jazz melodies. We Got This is the quintessential example: inspired compositions, deep grooves, rich arrangements, and flawless production.
Revisiting this legendary group after all these years is nothing short of a joy.
The album is a masterclass in musical maturity, no missteps, no filler, just a polished, radiant body of work that reminds us why their name has sparkled in the firmament of jazz royalty for so long.
Thierry De Clemensat
Member at Jazz Journalists Association
USA correspondent for Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief – Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, May 7th 2025
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Tracklist:
Heading Out
We Got This
I’m On My Way
Take A Stroll
Be There For You
Pieces Of You
All About Us
Cloud 9
Skyway Bridge
Moving And Grooving
Tour dates & Tickets:
18 June: The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre Detroit, MI
27 June: Birchmere Alexandria, VA
12 July: Museum of Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX
19 July: Greater Hartford Jazz Festival 2025 Downtown Hartford, CT