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Bob James (born December 25, 1939) is a smooth jazz
Smooth jazz

Smooth jazz is a sub-genre of jazz which is influenced stylistically by Rhythm and blues, funk and pop music.Beginning in the early 1970s, it was an evolution into jazz with a modern, electronic sensibility....
 and jazz fusion
Jazz fusion

Fusion or, more specifically, jazz fusion or jazz rock, is a musical genre that merges jazz with elements of other styles of music, particularly funk, Rock and roll, R&B, electronic music, and world music, but also pop music, classical music, and folk music, or sometimes even Heavy metal music, reggae, ska, country music, hip hop...
 keyboardist
Keyboardist

A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either piano or organ ....
, arranger and producer
Record producer

In the music industry, a record producer has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, Audio mixing and audio mastering processes....
.

ng the 1970s, Bob James played a major role in turning fusion jazz more mainstream. "Angela", the instrumental theme from the sitcom Taxi
Taxi (TV series)

Taxi is an United States Situation comedy that originally aired from 1978 to 1982 on American Broadcasting Company, and from 1982 to 1983 on NBC....
, is probably Bob James' most well-known work to date, He is also well-known for the fusion classics 'Nautilus' and 'Westchester Lady', the latter from the album Bob James Three.

For their first joint album release, One on One, Earl Klugh
Earl Klugh

Earl Klugh is an United States smooth jazz/jazz fusion guitarist and composer. Klugh currently resides in the Buckhead district of Atlanta, Georgia....
 and Bob James received a Grammy award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance of 1981.






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Encyclopedia


Bob James (born December 25, 1939) is a smooth jazz
Smooth jazz

Smooth jazz is a sub-genre of jazz which is influenced stylistically by Rhythm and blues, funk and pop music.Beginning in the early 1970s, it was an evolution into jazz with a modern, electronic sensibility....
 and jazz fusion
Jazz fusion

Fusion or, more specifically, jazz fusion or jazz rock, is a musical genre that merges jazz with elements of other styles of music, particularly funk, Rock and roll, R&B, electronic music, and world music, but also pop music, classical music, and folk music, or sometimes even Heavy metal music, reggae, ska, country music, hip hop...
 keyboardist
Keyboardist

A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either piano or organ ....
, arranger and producer
Record producer

In the music industry, a record producer has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, Audio mixing and audio mastering processes....
.

Biography

During the 1970s, Bob James played a major role in turning fusion jazz more mainstream. "Angela", the instrumental theme from the sitcom Taxi
Taxi (TV series)

Taxi is an United States Situation comedy that originally aired from 1978 to 1982 on American Broadcasting Company, and from 1982 to 1983 on NBC....
, is probably Bob James' most well-known work to date, He is also well-known for the fusion classics 'Nautilus' and 'Westchester Lady', the latter from the album Bob James Three.

For their first joint album release, One on One, Earl Klugh
Earl Klugh

Earl Klugh is an United States smooth jazz/jazz fusion guitarist and composer. Klugh currently resides in the Buckhead district of Atlanta, Georgia....
 and Bob James received a Grammy award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance of 1981. James is the founding member of smooth jazz
Smooth jazz

Smooth jazz is a sub-genre of jazz which is influenced stylistically by Rhythm and blues, funk and pop music.Beginning in the early 1970s, it was an evolution into jazz with a modern, electronic sensibility....
 supergroup Fourplay
Fourplay

Fourplay is a smooth jazz group in the United States. The original members of the group were Bob James , Lee Ritenour , Nathan East , and Harvey Mason ....
 and is a Yamaha Artist
Yamaha Artist

The term Yamaha Artist refers to musical instrumentalists who choose, officially, to play any of a large group of Yamaha musical instruments....
.

Very influenced by pop and movie music, James has often featured soloists, who add a jazz touch to his sound (most notably Grover Washington, Jr.
Grover Washington, Jr.

Grover Washington Jr. was an American jazz-funk / soul-jazz saxophonist. Along with John Klemmer, George Benson, David Sanborn, Bob James , Chuck Mangione, Herb Alpert, and Spyro Gyra, he is considered by many to be one of the founding fathers of the smooth jazz genre....
). While best known for his fusion sound, James began In 1962, recording a bop-ish trio set for Mercury, and three years later his album for ESP was quite avant-garde, with electronic tapes used for effects. After a period with Sarah Vaughan
Sarah Vaughan

Sarah Lois Vaughan was an United States jazz singer, described by Scott Yanow as having "one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century"....
 (1965-1968), he became a studio musician, appearing with Stanley Turrentine
Stanley Turrentine

Stanley William Turrentine, also known as "Mr. T" or "The Sugar Man", was an American jazz tenor saxophone....
 and Milt Jackson
Milt Jackson

Milton Jackson was an American jazz vibraphonist and one of the most important figures in the hard bop style, although he performed in several subgenres of jazz....
 on the 1972 album Cherry
Cherry (album)

Cherry is a 1972 album by Stanley Turrentine featuring Milt Jackson.Track listing # "Speedball" # "I Remember You" # "The Revs" ...
 and with Turrentine on his following album Don't Mess with Mister T.
Don't Mess With Mister T.

Don't Mess With Mister T. is a Stanley Turrentine album produced by Creed Taylor on CTI. It was recorded at Englewood Cliffs, NJ, in 1973....
 (1973), and that same year was arranging and working as a producer for CTI. In 1974, James recorded his first purely commercial effort as a leader; he later made big-selling albums for his own Tappan Zee label, Columbia, and Warner Bros., including collborations with Earl Klugh and David Sanborn
David Sanborn

David Sanborn is an United States alto saxophone saxophonist. Though Sanborn has worked in many genres, his solo recordings typically blend jazz with instrumental Pop music and R&B....
.

Music Sampling


Two of James' songs – "Nautilus
Nautilus (song)

Nautilus is the sixth and final track, lasting 5 minutes and 8 seconds, on the 1974 album One by jazz musician Bob James .Nautilus is famous as being one of the most sampled songs in Hip hop music history....
" from 1974's One and "Take Me to the Mardi Gras" from 1975's Two – are among the most sampled in hip hop
Hip hop

Hip hop is a cultural movement built largely around the music genre of hip hop music, which developed in New York City during the 1970s primarily among African Americans and Latino Americans....
 history. "Nautilus" has been most famously sampled in Eric B. & Rakim
Eric B. & Rakim

Eric Barrier and Rakim were a hip hop music duo from Long Island, New York, in the borough of Queens, New York, New York City, who recorded as Eric B....
's "Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em", Run-D.M.C.
Run-D.M.C.

Run-D.M.C. was an influential Hip hop culture group from Hollis, Queens, in the Queens borough of New York City. Founded by Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels, and Jason Mizell, the group is arguably the most important and influential act in the history of hip hop....
's "Beats to the Rhyme", Ghostface Killah
Ghostface Killah

Dennis Coles , better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapping and member of the Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the early- to mid-1990s, each member went on to pursue a solo career....
's "Daytona 500" and Jeru the Damaja
Jeru the Damaja

Kendrick Jeru Davis, known as Jeru the Damaja is American emcee from Brooklyn, New York. He has worked extensively with Guru and DJ Premier of Gang Starr, whom he has known since high school....
's "My Mind Spray" amongst many others and the notes of "Nautilus'" bassline were played on a keyboard for Slick Rick
Slick Rick

Ricky Walters , better known by stage names Slick Rick, MC Ricky D and Rick the Ruler, is a Grammy Award-nominated British-American rapper....
's "Children's Story". The first four measures of "Take Me to the Mardi Gras" (a Paul Simon original) includes a bell and drum groove that is one of hip hop's fundamental breakbeats
Break (music)

In popular music a break is an instrumental or percussion instrument section or interlude during a song derived from or related to stop-time – being a "break" from the main section of the song or piece....
. Run-D.M.C.'s "Peter Piper", LL Cool J
LL Cool J

James Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J, is an American rapper and actor. LL Cool J stands for "Ladies love Cool James." He is known for romantic ballads such as "I Need Love" and "Hey Lover" as well as pioneering hip-hop such as "Headsprung", "I Can't Live Without My Radio", "I'm Bad", "The Boomin' System", "Mama Said Knock You O...
's "Rock the Bells", the Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys

Beastie Boys are an American hip hop music group from New York City consisting of Michael Diamond, Adam Yauch, and Adam Horovitz. Since around the time of the Hello Nasty album, the DJ for the group has been Mix Master Mike, who was first featured in the song "Three MC's and One DJ"....
' "Hold it Now, Hit it", Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott

Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott is a five-time Grammy Award-winning American rapping, singing, songwriter, and record producer. With record sales of over seven million in the United States, she is the only female rapper to have six albums certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, including one double platinum ....
's "Work It," Will.i.am
Will.i.am

William Adams , better known by his stage name will.i.am is a Jamaican American who has won an Emmy Award and a Grammy Award. Will.I.Am is a hip hop musician, rapper, dancer, songwriter, animation voice and founding member and frontman of Black Eyed Peas....
's "I Got it from my Mama,", "I Want You" from Common
Common (rapper)

Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. , better known by his stage name Common , is an United States rapper and actor.Common debuted in 1992 with the album Can I Borrow a Dollar? and maintained a significant underground following into the late 90s, after which he gained notable mainstream success through his work with the Soulquarians....
's Finding Forever, and most recently "Take It Back" from Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan

The Wu-Tang Clan is a New York City?based hip hop group. Wu-Tang Clan consists of nine United States rapping: RZA, GZA, Raekwon, U-God, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, Method Man, Masta Killa, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard....
's 8 Diagrams
8 Diagrams

8 Diagrams is the fifth studio album by East Coast hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, released through Street Records Corporation on December 11, 2007....
.

Röyksopp
Röyksopp

R?yksopp is a Norway electronica duo based in Bergen composed of Torbj?rn Brundtland and Svein Berge. The group formed officially in 1998 and released their debut album Melody A.M. in 2001....
 sampled his version of the Stylistics
Stylistics

Stylistics might apply to:* The Stylistics, a Philadelphia soul group* Stylistics , the study of language and its context...
 song "You're as Right as Rain" for their instrumental track "Eple
Eple

"Eple" is a song by Norway duo R?yksopp, released as their second single. In 2003, it was re-released as the duo's third single from their first album Melody A.M.....
."

The title track from his 1981 album Sign of the Times was sampled in De La Soul
De La Soul

De La Soul is an American hip hop music group formed in 1987 in Amityville, New York. They are best known for their eclectic sampling and quirky, surreal lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres....
's "Keepin' the Faith", and Warren G
Warren G

Warren Griffin III better known by his stage name Warren G, is an United States West Coast hip hop rapping and hip hop producer. His biggest hit was the single "Regulate " with Nate Dogg released in 1994....
's "Regulate". In addition, James is mentioned in a verse by André 3000
André 3000

Andr? Lauren Benjamin better known by his stage name Andr? 3000, is an United States rapper, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and actor, best known for his work in the group OutKast....
 on "Black Ice" from Goodie Mob's second album Still Standing. His "Angela" was sampled in the track "Cab Fare" by Souls of Mischief
Souls of Mischief

Souls of Mischief is an alternative hip hop group from Oakland, California, that is also part of the hip hop musical collective, Hieroglyphics ....
, an out-take from their album No Man's Land
No Man's Land (album)

No Man's Land is the second studio album from the Souls Of Mischief, and the final album released on the Jive Records label. The album was released in 1995 in music....
.

The track "El Verano" from the 1977 album "Four" is used as a sample in the song "Blown Away" by the Cocoa Brovaz and also in the Masta Ace
Masta Ace

Masta Ace is a rapper from Brooklyn, New York. He appeared on the classic 1988 Juice Crew posse cut "The Symphony". The single that has earned him the most attention is called "Born to Roll"....
 Track "NY Confidential".

Discography


Albums

  • Bold Conceptions
    Bold Conceptions

    Bold Conceptions is the debut trio album by Bob James made on August 13, 1962 in music. The album showed a cartoon picture of Bob James playing on his piano....
     (1962)
  • Explosions (1965)
  • One
    One (Bob James album)

    One is the debut solo album by jazz musician Bob James released in 1974 in music....
     (1974)
  • Two
    Two (Bob James album)

    Two is an album by jazz musician Bob James . This album is the second of a series of jazz-funk classics . The track "Take Me to the Mardi Gras" is one of the most widely used tracks in hip-hop Break samples....
     (1975)
  • Three (1976)
  • BJ 4 (1977)
  • Heads (1977)
  • Touchdown
    Touchdown (Bob James album)

    Touchdown is a 1978 jazz album by Bob James . It was a commercial breakout album for him that contained the song "Angela", the popular theme song to the 1970s television sitcom, Taxi ....
     (1978)
  • Lucky Seven (1979)
  • One on One (jazz album) (with Earl Klugh
    Earl Klugh

    Earl Klugh is an United States smooth jazz/jazz fusion guitarist and composer. Klugh currently resides in the Buckhead district of Atlanta, Georgia....
    ) (1979)
  • H (1980)
  • All Around the Town (live) (1981)
  • Sign of the Times (1981)
  • Two of a Kind (with Earl Klugh
    Earl Klugh

    Earl Klugh is an United States smooth jazz/jazz fusion guitarist and composer. Klugh currently resides in the Buckhead district of Atlanta, Georgia....
    ) (1981)
  • Hands Down (1982)
  • Foxie (1983)
  • The Genie (1983)
  • Rameau (1984)
  • 12 (1984)
  • The Swan (1984)
  • Obsession (1986)
  • Double Vision
    Double Vision (Bob James and David Sanborn album)

    Double Vision is a 1986 album by Bob James and David Sanborn....
     (with David Sanborn
    David Sanborn

    David Sanborn is an United States alto saxophone saxophonist. Though Sanborn has worked in many genres, his solo recordings typically blend jazz with instrumental Pop music and R&B....
    ) (1986)
  • Ivory Coast (1988)
  • Scarlatti Dialogues (1988)
  • J.S. Bach: Concerto for Two and Three Pianos (1989)
  • Grand Piano Canyon (1990)
  • Cool (with Earl Klugh
    Earl Klugh

    Earl Klugh is an United States smooth jazz/jazz fusion guitarist and composer. Klugh currently resides in the Buckhead district of Atlanta, Georgia....
    ) (1992)
  • Restless (1994)
  • Flesh and Blood (with daughter Hilary James) (1995)
  • Joined at the Hip (with Kirk Whalum) (1996)
  • Straight Up (1996)
  • Playin' Hooky (1997)
  • Joy Ride (1999)
  • Dancing on the Water (2000)
  • Restoration: the Best of Bob James (2001)
  • Anthology (2001)
  • Morning, Noon and Night (2002)
  • Take It From the Top (2003)
  • Hi-Fi (2003)
  • Essential Collection: 24 Smooth Jazz Classics (2005)
  • Urban Flamingo (2006)
  • Angels of Shanghai (2007)
  • Christmas Eyes (with daughter Hilary James) (2008)


With Fourplay

  • Fourplay
    Fourplay (album)

    Fourplay is the eighth album by Alex Harvey, and it was the first album to be made without Alex Harvey. Alex Harvey were titled as "SAHB " on the album cover....
     (1991)
  • Between the Sheets (1993)
  • Elixir
    Elixir

    An elixir , Russian language,???????. From Greek language, ??????, "medical powder", from Greek language, ?????, "dry". Eliksir is a pharmaceutical preparation containing an active ingredient that is dissolved in a solution that contains some percentage of Ethanol and is designed to be taken orally....
     (1995)
  • The Best of Fourplay (1997)
  • 4 (1998)
  • Snowbound (1999)
  • Yes, Please (2000)
  • Heartfelt
    Heartfelt

    Heartfelt is the sixth studio album by Philippines R&B singer Kyla, released by EMI Music on 2007. The album is composed of 17 tracks and which are mostly revivals, the first for the singer....
     (2002)
  • Journey
    Journey

    Journey may refer to:* Journey , an American rock band** Journey , their 1975 debut album** Journey , an arcade game which featured the band...
     (2004)
  • X
    X

    X is the twenty-fourth letter in the modern Latin alphabet. Its name in English language is spelled ex , plural exes .History...
     (2006)
  • Energy
    Energy (jazz album)

    Energy is the 11th studio album by jazz group Fourplay, released on September 23, 2008. The cover show the four members: keyboardist Bob James , guitarist Larry Carlton, bassist Nathan East and drummer Harvey Mason....
     (2008)


See also

  • Smooth jazz
    Smooth jazz

    Smooth jazz is a sub-genre of jazz which is influenced stylistically by Rhythm and blues, funk and pop music.Beginning in the early 1970s, it was an evolution into jazz with a modern, electronic sensibility....


External links