Grover Washington Jr. - Just The Two Of Us

Year Released: 1981
Genre: Smooth Jazz / Soul / R&B

Description:

Released on Elektra Records in 1981, “Just the Two of Us” stands as Grover Washington Jr.’s signature crossover hit — a lush blend of smooth jazz sophistication and R&B warmth. Featuring the unmistakable vocals of Bill Withers, the song epitomizes early-’80s quiet storm elegance with its relaxed tempo, silky Fender Rhodes, and Washington’s expressive saxophone phrasing.

Built around a gentle yet insistent groove, the track’s melodic interplay between sax and voice creates a sense of intimate dialogue — equal parts romance and refined musicianship. Produced by Washington and Ralph MacDonald, its arrangement is pristine: layered percussion, understated rhythm guitar, and Withers’ soulful restraint combine to make it an enduring classic.

Winner of the 1982 Grammy Award for Best R&B Song, “Just the Two of Us” became a defining template for smooth jazz and contemporary soul in the decade that followed — a track as at home on late-night radio as in upscale lounges worldwide. Its influence continues across generations, sampled and covered by artists from Will Smith to Toshinobu Kubota.

A standout reinterpretation came decades later from Japanese artist Ino Hidefumi, whose minimal, organ-driven cover transforms the song into a smoky, lo-fi jazz vignette — paying tribute to Washington’s timeless groove while filtering it through Tokyo’s modern café-jazz sensibility.