The Swan

Performer: Bob James
Producer: Bob James; Joe Jorgensen
Distributor: E1 Distribution (USA)

Notes: All tracks have been digitally remastered. Personnel: Hugh McCracken, Steve Khan (guitars); Rob Zantay (synthesizer); Marcus Miller, Ron Carter , Will Lee (bass guitar); Peter Erskine, Yogi Horton (drums); Leonard "Doc" Gibbs, Sammy Figueroa (percussion). Bob James was far from predictable in the 1990s, when his albums ranged from the embarrassing Playin' Hooky to the excellent Straight Up (an unexpected return to straight-ahead jazz) and the enjoyable pop-jazz offering Grand Piano Canyon. Drawing on pop, jazz and new age, The Swan is a bit lightweight...on the whole, but does have its moments. The CD's most substantial tunes include "Prospero" and "Ensenada Madness," which has a Spanish flavor and shows an awareness of the writing that Chick Corea did with Return To Forever... ~ Alex Henderson Bob James was far from predictable in the '90s, when his albums ranged from the embarrassing Playin' Hooky to the excellent Straight Up (an unexpected return to straight-ahead jazz) and the enjoyable pop-jazz offering Grand Piano Canyon. Drawing on pop, jazz and new age, The Swan is lightweight and sleep-inducing on the whole, but it does have its moments. The CD's most substantial tunes include "Prospero" and "Ensenada Madness," which has a Spanish flavor and shows an awareness of the writing that Chick Corea did with Return to Forever. Unfortunately, too many of the other songs end up sounding like bloodless Muzak. Despite having a few bright spots, The Swan really isn't worth the price of admission. ~ Alex Henderson

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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