Bassist Cedric Napoleon, drummer Curtis Harmon, and keyboardist James Lloyd founded crossover jazz group Pieces of a Dream in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They were teenagers at the time of their 1976 formation. Though jazz-based, the group also emphasized R&B and incorporated funk, quiet storm, hip-hop, new jack swing, and smooth jazz into their recordings, which often featured vocalists (including Barbara Walker, Eva Cassidy, and Maysa Leak). Grover Washington, Jr. produced their first three albums -- Pieces of a Dream, We Are One, and Imagine This -- all of which were released on Elektra from 1981 through 1983. Three additional '80s releases, including a pair co-produced by Lenny White, appeared on EMI-Manhattan. Saxophonist Ron Kerber became a member in the '90s -- an addition that preceded varied releases throughout that decade for Blue Note. In the early 2000s, Pieces of a Dream moved to Cleveland's Heads Up label, where they remained for a decade. Their studio effort, In the Moment, appeared on Shanachie in 2013. Two years later, Pieces of a Dream celebrated their 40th Anniversary with the release of All In. In 2017, they delivered their 22nd studio album, Just Funkin' Around. ~ Scott Yanow