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Multi-Platinum-Selling, 2x-GRAMMY® Award Winner & 17x-GRAMMY® Nominated Piano Legend BOB JAMES' career is long, varied and continues to evolve at every turn. From his first days in Marshall, Missouri, the music of Bob James has captivated audiences throughout the world.
Discovered by Quincy Jones at the Notre Dame Jazz Festival in 1963, James recorded his first solo album, 'Bold Conceptions', that year for Mercury Records. 58 albums and innumerable awards would follow through five decades. He honed his skills working with Creed Taylor, working on albums for artists like Hank Crawford, Grover Washington, Jr, among others. While with CTI, James found great popular success overseeing significant hits for Paul Simon, Neil Diamond, Maynard Ferguson, and Kenny Loggins.
In 1974, James finally recorded his own album, 'One', which launched a lifelong career of recording and performing live. After three more albums, James began his own label, Tappan Zee Records. This allowed James to spend more time in the studio, focusing on his own creative works. It was during this time that he recorded his own gold seller, 'Touchdown', which included his composition, “Angela”, the instrumental theme from the sitcom Taxi, and possibly James' best known work. Bob composed all the original music used in that television series for its entire run. 'One On One', the first in three collaborations with Earl Klugh, won a GRAMMY® Award in 1980 for "Best Pop Instrumental Performance", and has sold over a million copies. During this time, James set the standard for the smooth jazz sound in the late 1970s.
In 1985, James moved to Warner Bros Records, and kicked things off with 'Double Vision', a collaboration with David Sanborn. 'Double Vision' was another GRAMMY® Award-Winner, selling over a million albums.
While recording his album, 'Grand Piano Canyon' in 1990, James reunited with longtime friend, drummer Harvey Mason, Jr. It would also be the first time James would work with guitarist Lee Ritenour, and bassist Nathan East. This would be the start of something beautiful, as these early sessions ignited a spark which would engulf the Jazz world as Fourplay. Fourplay's first album was recorded and released in 1991. The Group would collaborate on a total of three albums, until 1998 when Ritenour left the group, and Larry Carlton took over. This version of Fourplay continued the group's huge success for seven more albums. After 12 years, Carlton decided to delve further into his solo career, and the band brought in guitarist Chuck Loeb in 2010.
A personal and professional highlight was the collaboration with his daughter, Hilary, on their 'Flesh & Blood' album, which toured 15 U.S. cities. James continued collaborating on separate projects with Earl Klugh, ('Cool') and Kirk Whalum ('Joined At the Hip'). Both albums were nominated for GRAMMY® Awards. His solo career continued throughout the 90's, culminating with 'Joy Ride' in 1999, and another GRAMMY® Award Nomination.
In 2001, 'Dancing On the Water', was released, once again showcasing James' creative versatility. The album includes performances with Keiko Matsui, Joe Sample, Dave Holland, and Chuck Loeb. Fourplay released 'Heartfelt' in 2002, and spent much of the year touring across the globe. That same year, James released 'Morning, Noon, & Night', whose title track went to #1 in Contemporary Jazz Radio.
James stayed busy in 2006, releasing 'Urban Flamingo' in February, and on April 7, was awarded the "George Benson Lifetime Achievement Award" by the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards. Summer saw the release of Fourplay's tenth record, appropriately called 'X'. This tour literally took James around the world again with stops in Spain, London, California, Hong Kong, Japan, Kuala Lumpur, and Indonesia.
In 2008, James released a Christmas album with Hilary James, and another Fourplay album 'Energy'. 'Energy' featured GRAMMY® Award-Winner Esperanza Spalding, and another GRAMMY® Award Nomination with the first single, “Fortune Teller”.
2010 saw the twelfth Fourplay album released,' Let's Touch the Sky', which led to another world tour, culminating with an unforgettable collaboration with the New Japan Philharmonic in Tokyo in December. This premiered new orchestral pieces arranged specifically for this concert, and was Fourplay's first performance with a symphony orchestra. Fourplay was voted "Best Group of the Year" at the American Smooth Jazz Awards to wrap up a busy 2010.
Then, in September 2011, 'Altair & Vega', the Four-Hand piano duet collaboration with Keiko Matsui, was released. Their unique collaboration which took nearly 10 years, resulted in several memorable live tour performances, before being completed as a recorded album, along with a live performance DVD recorded at the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild. Later that same year, James released a collaboration with Savannah guitarist Howard Paul with 'Just Friends: The Hamilton Hall Sessions'. All this, while still touring with Fourplay, including headlining the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl, and receiving the Oasis Contemporary jazz award for "Group of the Year"..
Fourplay joined forces again the following year with the release of 'Esprit de Four'. The album hit the charts, producing several successful tracks, including the powerful “Put Our Hearts Together”, which featured vocals by Seiko Matsuda. The song was a tribute to the regions of Japan devastated by the natural disasters just months earlier, and spawned several benefit concerts, such as the Iwate Jazz Festival, and a full length documentary of James' visit to the region.
In 2013, 'Quartette Humaine' was released, this was the first creative collaboration between keyboardist-composer Bob James and alto saxophonist David Sanborn since their million-selling, GRAMMY® Award-Winning album, 'Double Vision', twenty-five years ago.
2015 brought the release of James' first live album, 'Live at the Milliken Auditorium', which was captured on a magical night in his home town of Traverse City, Michigan. This same year also brought the first release from James and long time collaborator Nathan East, 'The New Cool', a masterful work of art which truly redefines the essence of cool. Still not finished, James and Fourplay came together for the release of the group's 25th anniversary, with 'Silver', which was recorded old school at Sunset Sound Studios, where the group recorded their first album 25 years earlier.
These masterful musicians played with intensity, honesty, and a clear love of their art. Loved the way they both presented themselves as experimenting with new material and apologizing for any mistakes that come with that process. Sat in Loge 9 and felt like we had the perfect seats...could see and hear the performance extremely well.
Wish it could have been a 2 hour concert. Dissapointed that there was no flash photography allowed, so I was unable to take pictures. But I do understand. Wish Bob James would have played "Restoration".
Bob James is beyond reproach and David Sanborn's, trademark "Screaming Sax" are an unmistakable pleasure filled evening. Steve Gadd made the drums sing to their own rhythm and the Bass player, Genus ( I hope I spelled it correctly) added just the right spice to the songs.
I had the pleasure of hearing Bob James, David Sanborn and Marcus Miller play the entire Double Vision album on the smooth Jazz Cruise in January - absolutely amazing. James and Sanborn played not only songs off of their new album, Quartet Humaine, but also Double VIsion. The quartet they assembled for QH gave them a different vibe than Double Vision. The complexity of some of the songs was so entertaining and one can truly appreciate the genius and talent of these men.
The venue, song set, intimate setting was terrific. Getting to meet the artists after the show was the icing on the cake.
Very nice. These icons deliver every time. We had an additional treat with Steve Gadd on drums! The new work is beautiful and it was really sweet to go back down memory lane.
The Bob James concert was great. I ordered tickets early and got two front row seats. I was really nice to hear him with a large orgestra ans with special gueat Kirt Whalem. I love the beauty of th Fox Performance Center and will return.
Nice collaboration with the Corona Symphony and Kirk Whalum. When I purchased the tickets Whalum was not listed on the line-up, but added a great deal to the show.
What a magical night. Bob brought along Nathan East (Bass), Kirk Whalum(Sax), and Harvey Mason(Drums). I don't remember his guitar player, but he was great too. Accompanying them was the Corona Symphony Pops Orchestra. The tightness of the five guys up front was astonishing. In true jazz fashion they all shared the stage and had their moments in the spot light. Bob stood and took a bow at the end of each song and was more than willing to let everyone, including the Pops take over the show as he accompanied. I'd never heard many of the songs they played that night - it didn't matter. It was still an awesome show. Bob and Nathan seem to be wired together. I had an ear to ear grin the entire night. The only down side was that the venue was only about half filled. So many people who don't know who they are - are bumming because they missed this show.
It was so entertaining watching Bob and Kirk Whalum, along with the orchestra bounce back and forth with each other. The selections went way back in Bob's history and then ended with some more current numbers. One special moment was when a flutist (I wish I could remember her name, it deserves mention) played a solo that was full on jazzy! We had a great time, and hope other shows like this become available.
Bob James is an incredible performer. While the performance was not sold out, the people in attendance more than made up for the absence of others. Mr. James walked us all down memory lane and performed standards from his earlier LP's that made his music and silky jazz style a household name. "Feel Like Making Love," "Theme from Taxi," and Westchester Lady," were special cuts I would recommend listening to time and again. I was first exposed to the work of Bob James on the LP "Inner City Blues" featuring Grover Washington Jr. Pay close attention to the hip and subsequent string arrangements on "Mercy Mercy Me." This is the genius of Bob James and Grover Washington...truly one of the most beautifully collaborative performances of two monster talents to date. Bob James changed the way Jazz was listened to---and appreciated.
Great show, loved the song selections, the Corona symphony pops was well directed, and added a profesisonal studio sound.
Once again we had a WONDERFUL jazz evening at Dimitrious Jazz Alley --the staff, dinner club atmosphere, candlelight, great food, ETC perfectly complemented the amazing talents of smooth jazz artists Bob James and Earl Klugh. The sound --acoustics, band, sets played--was fantastic. We even stayed for the second show--what a treat. Also, the bass player and drummer in the foursome did a GREAT job. So nice to see the jazz virtuosos (like Bob James and Lee Ritenour, who we've heard there previously) mentor younger artists like they do. We look forward to the next show we can see there--wish they were closer!
Earl Klugh is my favorite musician and I've attended untold number of his concerts so was so excited to attend another. It was far shorted than any others and it turned out to be mainly a Bob James concert with not much Earl. Highly disappointing.
What can I say? I had the best time ever. I bought my tickets five months ago for my sister and me; however, she couldn't go, so I invited my 28-year-old daughter who enjoyed it more than I did!! She reported that a lot of the young artists these days sample his songs - who knew? What a performance. Bob was great (as usual) and his band was in rare form, especially the sax/flute player, the bassist was too-too, as well as the drummer. Bob's so cool. I can't wait to see him again. BTW, after the show, they were signing CDs, etc., and we got a chance to meet them; what nice guys.
I have wanted to see Bob James since I was about 15 years old (now 50). It was worth the wait and would see him again. The performance was great and I can't think of a better venue... Well, maybe in the summer at Villa Montalvo under the stars.
The Bob James concert at Montalvo was outstanding! Not only did we get to see Bob James in the "intimate" Carriage House, but the Detroit sax/bass/drum trio who performed with him were fantastic! We had never heard Dave McMurray before, and his ability to move between a soulful sax and a soft flute in the same song was unbelievable!Especially loved how they played Angela (the theme form Taxi) together. Bob James continues to rock on! If you can see this concert, don't miss it!
I would have to say that this was one of the best musical experiences ever for me. The venue was very small and intimate. It was like Bob James, Dave McMurray, Ron Otis and Al Turner were in someone's living room. I felt special and privileged to be able to experience such a unique concert. All of the musicians are probably the top in their field. Ron Otis has energy that is unbelievable. The same for Dave McMurry - well for all of them. The sound was amazing. Their music was awesome. Bob James arrangements always sound current and exciting. Loved it!
Bob James and his three piece band were extremely entertaining, especially considering that all four flew in from different parts of the country the same day as the show. They way they jelled, you would have never known it. All are top-notch musicians. James played a wide range of songs covering his 40+ years, including his popular "Angela's Theme" and "Westchester Lady".
I've seen Bob James twice in Fourplay. This is the first time as a solo. He and his band are amazing. Villa Montalvo is a really great place to see a concert. We are lucky that this organization is there to serve the Silicon Valley.
