5/4/2023 0 Comments Bob james touchdown![]() Over time, James’ funky grooves became frequent hip-hop fodder, making him one of the most sampled jazz artists. In the ’90s he formed the long-lasting supergroup Fourplay with Lee Ritenour, Nathan East, and Harvey Mason. James remained a smooth-jazz star thereafter, but detours into classical music showed he still had an eclectic soul. By 1978’s Touchdown (which featured “Angela,” his hugely popular theme for TV’s Taxi), he’d perfected that radio-friendly sound. ![]() His next couple of releases mixed experimental impulses with the fusion of jazz, pop, and funk that would soon make him famous. His Quincy Jones-produced 1963 debut album, Bold Conceptions, was a brash mix of bebop and avant-garde jazz, while the follow-up was a full-on free-jazz exploration. In 1978, he released his breakthrough album Touchdown, which featured the mega hit 'Angela.' Because the song was so closely associated with the hit sitcom Taxi, the album attained platinum certification - a rarity for jazz albums. Born in Missouri in 1939, James was a child prodigy on piano, turning pro in the ’50s. James left CTI to found his own Tappan Zee label. ![]() He also released the solo piano offering Alone: Kaleidoscope by Solo Piano, and The New Cool, a duo with Fourplay's bassist Nathan East.Keyboardist Bob James is one of the most popular smooth-jazz musicians ever, but that’s not the entirety of his story. James' 21st-century achievements include the concert offering Angels of Shanghai, showcasing his compositions in a group featuring Fourplay, a quintet of Chinese conservatory students playing traditional folk instruments, and a DJ. During the '90s, he released his contemporary jazz masterwork Grand Piano Canyon, and co-founded the jazz supergroup Fourplay. During the '80s, in addition to jazz records, he cut three commercially successful classical titles. James has also composed and arranged for The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. One of his signature tunes, "Angela," from the chart-topping Touchdown in 1978, is the iconic theme for the hit television show Taxi with a lithe electric piano, simple melody, slightly funky backbeat, and muted bass and brass. (Two songs, "Nautilus" from 1974's One and "Take Me to the Mardi Gras" from 1975's Two, are among the most sampled songs in history.) James has also written extensively for film and television. Those four albums are all considered shining examples of early jazz-funk and have been abundantly sampled by hip-hop DJs and producers. Bob James Format: Audio CD 111 ratings 1339 Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime & FREE Returns See all 4 formats and editions Streaming Unlimited MP3 18.98 Listen with our Free App Audio CD 13.39 17 Used from 3.45 3 New from 34. In addition to gold- and platinum-selling albums on his own and in various collaborations, he issued four numerically titled albums for CTI in the mid-'70s that successfully melded jazz, pop, and classical styles with sharp arrangements, accessible melodies, and funky grooves. His music seamlessly melds genres from bop to pop, from classical to R&B via relatively simple, accessible, and elegant melodies with rich harmonies and multiple sonic textures, often anchored by lithe, funky grooves. Along with Grover Washington, Jr., he is known as one of the fathers of smooth and contemporary jazz. ![]() More information including tickets can be found at JazzBeat Promotions, or call 40.īob James is a prolific, best-selling, Grammy-winning composer, arranger, producer, and pianist. Doors open at 6:30pm with dinner and Jazz with Bob James at 7:30pm. This week they're celebrating 10 years of The Suite Jazz Series with a performance from the Legendary Bob James on Thursday, March 30. Support for Jazz 91.9 WCLK comes from The Suite Food Lounge, presenting The Suite Jazz Series.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |