Bob James

[Jazz Kat]

I haven't had respect for Bob James. Mainly because he's in Fourplay. But I just picked up a Bob James album from circa 1975, called Two. I picked it up because it looked like a 1970's jazz/funk album, and because Steve Gadd appeared on it. I really like it. He is pretty good, in fact one of the songs on it is actually extremely challenging. It's one of those Creed Taylor CTI albums. Man I love those albums. 5 stars, except for a poor track with vocals...

[Guest akanalog]

you picked it up because it had steve gadd on it?

you have a lot to learn, son.

[clifford_thornton]

The Bob James albums I've got enjoyment from are not on CTI, but ESP and Mercury, both from the 60s. No Steve Gadd anywhere on those, but Barre Phillips is on the former.

[JSngry]

It's interesting (maybe) to note how many of Sarah Vaughn's accompanists of the 60s went into "other areas" of jazz. Bob James, Chick Corea, Jan Hammer, Karl Schroeder, who else?

What did she do to them?

[Jazz Kat]

you picked it up because it had steve gadd on it?

you have a lot to learn, son.

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maybe

[Jazz Kat]

This album any good?

[Jazz Kat]

One thing I can say is he had the coolest album covers.

[Free For All]

This album any good?

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In a Spyro Gyra kind of way.

[rostasi]

This album any good?

←

In a Spyro Gyra kind of way.

...or as a friend of mine used to call them: Sperm-o Germ-o

Anyone remember the incessant clamour of James' "Westchester Lady"

in the 70's?

[Jazz Kat]

This album any good?

←

In a Spyro Gyra kind of way.

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That bad?

[Jazz Kat]

wicked

[Free For All]

I'm all for JK's sense of exploration and enthusiasm, which I commend him for, but I remember thinking a lot of BJ's stuff was "lite" at the time it came out in the 70s. I think his sides contributed a lot to the idea that the decade of the 70s was a weak one for jazz. Some good players participating, but fairly dull tunes and very repetitive.

[Jazz Kat]

I guess I am in my most explorative period. Sometimes can be good, but then you buy an album like Chick Corea's Leprechaun. :

[Free For All]

I guess I am in my most explorative period. Sometimes can be good, but then you buy an album like Chick Corea's Leprechaun.  :

←

Now maybe I'm crazy, but I liked Leprechaun more than anything BJ did. Go figure.

I did like the Taxi theme, though................

[JSngry]

You ever watch Taxi. the TV show? That's your man's most famous work.

Honestly, I was around at the time, and viewed him then as a "step down" from Don Sebesky for CTI. Given that I was no fan of Sebesky's work for the label in the first place...

But time moves on, and yeah, ok, now I can hear that stuff with the ear of somebody who's had to perform much similar music over the years, and yeah, he did what he did really well, all things considered. His Rhodes sound is an archetype of 70s pop-jazz, and he always had good players in the rhythm section to give the stuff a groove. It was schlock for the most part (just my opinion, nothing personal), but it was schlock with a groove, and considering how much schlock there was from the time without a groove, hey...

And I must say, for no good reason (or any other kind of reason for that matter), I've always dug the tune "Look-Alike" off of Lucky Seven. Check that one out. I guess we all have our weaknesses.

[Jazz Kat]

The Lep for me has one good track. Lenore is pretty cool. The other ethnic influenced songs and vocalized tracks killed it for me.

[rostasi]

JazzKat:

Could you tell us what it is you like about the James stuff you've heard so far?

If you liked Two, then One could be your cup-o-tea.

It doesn't have Patti Austin and it has Jon Faddis and Grover on it

and is a bit "funkier" (but I cringe when I use that word and "Bob James" together).

I like a lot of CTI stuff, but James always came off as pablum: narcotic arrangements

and twee melodies that would later spur an "easy jazz" movement that continues to this day.

[JSngry]

Why does he want to kill this beautiful woman?

[rostasi]

I guess I am in my most explorative period. Sometimes can be good, but then you buy an album like Chick Corea's Leprechaun.  :

God! I hate that pixie-ass shit!

(sorry)

[Jazz Kat]

I just got Two. I guess I dug the funk feel to the album. (mainly the backbeats) And the melodies were nice enough.

[JSngry]

OK, I've got the AMG sample of "Look-Alike" playing right now, and I STILL like it! I'm a goner!

Just hope I don't go out and try to break a beautiful woman's neck!

[JSngry]

If you liked Two, then One could be your cup-o-tea.

←

Yeah, One has "Feel Like Making Love" and "Night On Bald Mountain", both of which "garnered favor" on the local jazz radio at the time.

[rostasi]

I just got Two. I guess I dug the funk feel to the album. (mainly the backbeats) And the melodies were nice enough.

OK...but, I'm curious...why are you going there

for funk? I think lots of us here: Jsngry, SoulStation1, and others could

hook you up with some realfunk!

[Jazz Kat]

Please do it then. Jazz-Funk. Instrumental, no vocals.

[Guest akanalog]

some of his tunes were good-but overall the albums are pretty weak.

plenty of better CTI stuff-farrell, moriera, weston, hubbard...