The Essential Collection: 24 Smooth Jazz Classics

Performer: Bob James
Distributor: E1 Distribution (USA)

Notes: Personnel: Bob James (keyboards); Richie Resnicoff (guitar); Harold Kohon, Charles Libove, David Nadien, Gene Orloff, Max Ellen, Paul Gershman, Emanuel Green, Harry Lookofsky, Joe Malin (violin); Seymour Barab, Jesse Levy, Charles McCracken, Alan Shulman, George Ricci, Anthony Sophos (cello); George Marge, Romeo Penque (alto flute, recorder); Jon Faddis, Alan Rubin, Lew Soloff, Marvin Stamm, Victor Paz, Thad Jones (trumpet); Wayne Andre (trombone); Jack Gale, Alan Raph, Paul Faulise (bass trombone); Gary King (bass instrument); Steve Gadd (drums); Ralph MacDonald (percussion); Dave Friedman. Issued by the U.K.-based Metro Doubles label in 2002, Essential Collection: 24 Smooth Jazz Classics only overlaps 2001's Restoration anthology with eight of the same tracks, and concentrates on material originally released from 1974 to 1984 (apart from 1995's "Ensenada Madness," everything fits into that time frame). A fine chronological overview of James' most productive period, this is a very attractive package that includes informative and insightful liner notes. "Nautilus," "Westchester Lady," "Take Me to the Mardi Gras," "Angela (Theme From Taxi)," "Touchdown," and "Sign of the Times" are among the inclusions. Naturally, this double-disc set can serve any number of purposes: as pleasant, occasionally funky background music, as proof of your extensive knowledge of hip-hop samples, or as cruel torture for your jazz purist peers. ~ Andy Kellman

Keyboardist Bob James is a man who has worn many musical hats. He began as a progressive-jazz pianist in the early 1960s (he even recorded for famed underground avant-garde label ESP). By the '70s, however, he'd incorporated electric keyboards and become a star in the burgeoning fusion genre, making records which would later be sampled by countless hip-hop artists. Along the way, he was also involved in the soundtracks for everything from SERPICO to the TV show TAXI, and worked as arranger and producer for Dionne Warwick, Roberta Flack, and others. In the '90s, James became even more popular as a member of the smooth-jazz supergroup Fourplay.

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