Richard Tee – Natural Ingredients

Richard Tee – Natural Ingredients

Natural Ingredients is a smooth, deeply musical fusion record from acclaimed American keyboardist Richard Tee, best known for his work across jazz, soul, and R&B sessions throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Released in 1982, the album showcases Tee’s signature blend of gospel-influenced piano playing, sophisticated jazz harmony, and laid-back groove-oriented arrangements.

Built around warm keyboard textures and understated but tight ensemble playing, the album moves effortlessly between soulful ballads and rhythm-driven fusion pieces. Tracks like What A Woman Really Means and Now highlight Tee’s expressive melodic touch and gospel-rooted phrasing, while The Nuts Off The Screw and Back Door Man lean into funkier, more groove-heavy territory.

Elsewhere, Tell It Like It Is and Us bring a relaxed, reflective mood, demonstrating Tee’s ability to balance technical musicianship with emotional directness. The result is an album that feels intimate yet richly arranged, sitting comfortably between jazz sophistication and soulful accessibility.

Natural Ingredients stands as a strong example of early-80s jazz fusion shaped by New York session excellence - understated, elegant, and full of musical depth.

Tracklist:

Side A
A1. What A Woman Really Means – 6:04
A2. Now – 6:09
A3. The Nuts Off The Screw – 4:33

Side B
B1. Tell It Like It Is – 4:31
B2. Us – 4:43
B3. Back Door Man – 4:48
B4. Spinning Song – 4:43