Moving Forward

Moving Forward
Studio album by Bernie Williams
Released	April 14, 2009
Recorded	2008-2009
Genre	Jazz
Label	Reform
Producer	Loren Harriet
Bernie Williams chronology
The Journey Within (2003) Moving Forward (2009)

Moving Forward is the second studio album by former New York Yankees outfielder turned jazz musician, Bernie Williams.

Background

The album was released on April 14, 2009 through the independent label, Reform Records. Williams, who played lead and rhythm, composed nine of the fourteen tracks on the album. Several well-known guests are featured on the album, including Bruce Springsteen, Dave Koz, and fellow athlete turned musician Wayman Tisdale.

Moving Forward made it on to five different Billboard charts, including 178 on the magazine's main chart, the Billboard 200, but it found its greatest success on the Top Contemporary Jazz chart, where it peaked at #2. In addition to the album, two singles also made it to the Billboard's Smooth Jazz Songs. "Go For It" made it to #1, while "Ritmo De Otono" peaked at #2.^[1]

At the Latin Grammy Awards of 2009, Moving Forward was nominated for the Best Latin Jazz Album, it was beaten by Bebo Valdés y Chucho Valdés' Juntos Para Siempre.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]

The album was met with positive reviews. Allmusic gave the album four out of a possible five stars, stating "while the four-time World Series champ's glory days are behind him as a ballplayer, he's Moving Forward towards a stellar career in music."^[3] Dave Sheinin from The Washington Post also gave the album a favorable review stating that "if you can deal with some clichéd jazz-fusion production, there are some interesting songs, some virtuoso flourishes (many of them from Williams, whose talent as a guitarist is evident) and some cool moments".^[4]

Track listing

1. "Moving Forward"- 5:22 (featuring Wayman Tisdale)
2. "Ritmo de Otoño"- 5:42 (featuring Dave Koz)
3. "Songo"- 5:02 (featuring Scott Henderson)
4. "Addicted to You"- 5:57
5. "Just Another Day"- 5:18 (featuring Jon Secada)
6. "He Reigns"- 5:53
7. "Lullaby for Beatriz"- 3:53
8. "Go for It"- 6:55 (featuring Mike Stern)
9. "Que Rico el Mambo"- 7:26
10. "African Blues"- 5:16
11. "Chillin in the West"- 5:05
12. "Take Me out to the Ball Game"- 3:02 (featuring Bob Sheppard)
13. "Otro Dia Mas Sin Verge"- 5:19 (featuring Jon Secada)
14. "Glory Days"- 6:24 (featuring Bruce Springsteen)

Chart history

Chart (2009)	Peak position
Billboard 200	178
Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz	2
Billboard Jazz Albums	3
Billboard Top Heatseekers	6
Billboard Top Independent Albums	23

References

1. ^ "Moving Forward chart history at Billboard.com". Billboard.com. 2010-05-21. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/bernie-williams/chart-history/517708. 
2. ^ Allmusic review
3. ^ "Moving Forward review at Allmusic.com". Allmusic.com. 2010-05-21. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1490512. 
4. ^ "Moving Forward review at The Washington Post". Washington Post. 2010-05-21. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postrock/2009/04/bernie_williams_moving_forward.html. 

External links

• Moving Forward at Allmusic
• Moving Forward at Billboard
• Moving Forward at Tower Records