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Bob James (musician)
Encyclopedia
Robert McElhiney James is a jazz
keyboardist
, arranger
and producer
.
, is probably Bob James' most well-known work to date. He is also well-known for the smooth jazz classics "Nautilus" and "Westchester Lady", the latter from the album Bob James Three.
For their first joint album release, One on One, Earl Klugh
and Bob James received a Grammy award
for Best Pop Instrumental Performance of 1981. James is the founding member of contemporary jazz
supergroup Fourplay
and is a Yamaha Artist
.
James also received a Grammy award for his collaboration with David Sanborn on the 1986 album "Double Vision"
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.
). In 1962, James began recording a bop-ish trio set for Mercury. Three years later, his album for ESP was quite avant-garde, with electronic tapes used for effects. After a period with Sarah Vaughan
(1965–1968), he became a studio musician, appearing with Stanley Turrentine
and Milt Jackson
on the 1972 album Cherry
and with Turrentine on his following album Don't Mess with Mister T.
(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 collaborations with Earl Klugh and David Sanborn
.
. His music has also had a profound effect on the history of hip hop music
, having been sampled often. Two of James' songs – "Nautilus
" from 1974's One and "Take Me to the Mardi Gras" from 1975's Two – are among the most sampled
in hip hop
history. "Nautilus" has been most famously sampled in Eric B. & Rakim
's "Follow the Leader", Run-D.M.C.
's "Beats to the Rhyme", Ghostface Killah
's "Daytona 500" and Jeru the Damaja
's "My Mind Spray" amongst many others and the notes of "Nautilus'" bassline were played on a keyboard for Slick Rick
's "Children's Story". According to whosampled.com, "Nautilus" and "Take Me to Mardi Gras" have been sampled in thirty-two and forty-three hip-hop recordings, respectively. The first four measures of "Mardi Gras" (a Paul Simon original) includes a bell and drum groove that is one of hip hop's fundamental breakbeats
.Crash Crew's "Breaking Bells (Take Me To The Mardi Gras)", Run-D.M.C.'s "Peter Piper", LL Cool J
's "Rock the Bells", the Beastie Boys
' "Hold it Now, Hit it", Missy Elliott
's "Work It," Will.i.am
's "I Got it from my Mama,", "This Is Me (Urban Remix)" by girl group Dream for their debut album It Was All a Dream, "I Want You" from Common
's Finding Forever, and most recently "Take It Back" from Wu-Tang Clan
's 8 Diagrams
.
Röyksopp
sampled his version of the Stylistics
song "You're as Right as Rain" for their instrumental track "Eple
."
The title track from his 1981 album Sign of the Times was sampled in De La Soul
's "Keepin' the Faith", and Warren G
's "Regulate". In addition, James is mentioned in a verse by André 3000
on "Black Ice" from Goodie Mob's second album Still Standing.
His "Angela" was sampled in the track "Cab Fare" by Souls of Mischief
, an out-take from their album No Man's Land
.
The track "El Verano" from the 1977 album "BJ4" is used as a sample in the song "Blown Away" by the Cocoa Brovaz and also in the Masta Ace
Track "NY Confidential".
English Drum & Bass pioneer Adam F extensively sampled "Westchester Lady" on his 1995 breakthrough release Circles.
Ones "Night on Bald Mountain" is used in the video game God Hand
, and forms the soundtrack to a level of the same name.
N.W.A's "Alwayz into Somethin'" uses a sample of "Storm King" from the album Three.
"Nautilus" was used in video game developer Rockstar's "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
" on the fictional radio station, Master Sounds 98.3.
"The Rhythm" by Kwamé
the Boy Genius features a sample of "Look-Alike" from the album Lucky Seven.
"Can't Wait
" by Redman
features a sample of "Caribbean Nights" from the album Touchdown.
Editado el 07/07/2011
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
, arranger
Arranger
In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
.
Biography
During the 1970s, Bob James played a major role in establishing the smooth jazz genre. "Angela", the instrumental theme from the sitcom TaxiTaxi (TV series)
Taxi was an American sitcom that originally aired from 1978 to 1982 on ABC and from 1982 to 1983 on NBC. The series, which won 18 Emmy Awards, including three for "Outstanding Comedy Series", focuses on the everyday lives of a handful of New York City taxi drivers and their abusive dispatcher...
, is probably Bob James' most well-known work to date. He is also well-known for the smooth jazz 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 American smooth jazz/crossover jazz/jazz fusion guitarist and composer.At the age of 13, Klugh was captivated by the guitar playing of Chet Atkins when Atkins made an appearance on the Perry Como Show. Klugh was a performing guest on several of Atkins' albums...
and Bob James received a Grammy award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Pop Instrumental Performance of 1981. James is the founding member of contemporary jazz
Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
supergroup Fourplay
Fourplay
Fourplay is a contemporary jazz quartet in the United States. The original members of the group were Bob James , Lee Ritenour , Nathan East , and Harvey Mason . In 1997, Lee Ritenour left the group and Fourplay chose Larry Carlton as his replacement...
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....
.
James also received a Grammy award for his collaboration with David Sanborn on the 1986 album "Double Vision"
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 George Benson, John Klemmer, David Sanborn, Bob James, Chuck Mangione, Herb Alpert, and Spyro Gyra, he is considered by many to be one of the founders of the smooth jazz genre.He wrote some of his material and...
). In 1962, James began recording a bop-ish trio set for Mercury. 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 American 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 saxophonist.-Biography:Turrentine was born in Pittsburgh's Hill District into a musical family...
and Milt Jackson
Milt Jackson
Milton "Bags" Jackson was an American jazz vibraphonist, usually thought of as a bebop player, although he performed in several jazz idioms...
on the 1972 album Cherry
Cherry (album)
Cherry is a 1972 album by saxophonist Stanley Turrentine featuring Milt Jackson.-Track listing:# "Speedball" – 6:39# "I Remember You" – 5:10# "The Revs" – 7:46...
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 his label, CTI. It was arranged by Bob James and recorded at Van Gelder Studio in June 1973.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Ron Wynn awarded the album 4½ stars....
(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 collaborations with Earl Klugh and David Sanborn
David Sanborn
David Sanborn is an American alto saxophonist. Though Sanborn has worked in many genres, his solo recordings typically blend jazz with instrumental pop and R&B. He released his first solo album Taking Off in 1975, but has been playing the saxophone since before he was in high school...
.
Legacy
James is recognized as one of the progenitors of smooth jazzSmooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
. His music has also had a profound effect on the history of hip hop music
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
, having been sampled often. 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 history...
" from 1974's One and "Take Me to the Mardi Gras" from 1975's Two – are among the most sampled
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
in hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
history. "Nautilus" has been most famously sampled in Eric B. & Rakim
Eric B. & Rakim
Eric B. & Rakim were a hip-hop duo composed of DJ Eric Barrier and MC Rakim .Hailing from Long Island, New York, the pair are generally considered by hip hop enthusiasts to be one of the most influential and innovative groups in the genre...
's "Follow the Leader", Run-D.M.C.
Run-D.M.C.
Run–D.M.C. was an American hip hop group from Hollis, in the Queens borough of New York City. Founded by Joseph "Run" Simmons, Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels, and Jason "Jam-Master Jay" Mizell, the group is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential acts in the history of hip hop culture.Run–D.M.C...
's "Beats to the Rhyme", Ghostface Killah
Ghostface Killah
Dennis Coles , better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and prominent member of the Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of Enter the Wu-Tang , the members went on to pursue solo careers to varying levels of success...
's "Daytona 500" and Jeru the Damaja
Jeru the Damaja
Kendrick Jeru Davis, known as Jeru the Damaja is an American rapper and recording artist who has worked extensively with Guru and DJ Premier of Gang Starr, whom he has known since high school.-Biography:...
's "My Mind Spray" amongst many others and the notes of "Nautilus'" bassline were played on a keyboard for Slick Rick
Slick Rick
Richard Walters , better known by his stage name Slick Rick is a Grammy-nominated English-American rapper...
's "Children's Story". According to whosampled.com, "Nautilus" and "Take Me to Mardi Gras" have been sampled in thirty-two and forty-three hip-hop recordings, respectively. The first four measures of "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 section or interlude during a song derived from or related to stop-time – being a "break" from the main parts of the song or piece....
.Crash Crew's "Breaking Bells (Take Me To The Mardi Gras)", 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, entrepreneur, and actor...
's "Rock the Bells", the Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
' "Hold it Now, Hit it", Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
's "Work It," Will.i.am
Will.i.am
William James Adams, Jr. , better known by his stage name will.i.am and occasionally by his other stage name Zuper Blahq, is an American rapper, musician, songwriter, singer, actor and producer...
's "I Got it from my Mama,", "This Is Me (Urban Remix)" by girl group Dream for their debut album It Was All a Dream, "I Want You" from Common
Common (rapper)
Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. , better known by his stage name Common , is an American hip-hop artist and actor....
's Finding Forever, and most recently "Take It Back" from Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
The Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop group from Staten Island that consists of RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. They are frequently joined by fellow childhood friend Cappadonna, a quasi member of the group...
's 8 Diagrams
8 Diagrams
8 Diagrams is the fifth studio album by American hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, released December 11, 2007 on SRC/Universal Motown Records. The album was released three years after the passing of Ol' Dirty Bastard, and six years after the group's previous LP Iron Flag, for which many group members...
.
Röyksopp
Röyksopp
Röyksopp is a Norwegian electronic music duo from Tromsø, formed in 1998. Since their inception, the band's line-up has included Svein Berge and Torbjørn Brundtland....
sampled his version of the Stylistics
The Stylistics
The Stylistics are a soul music vocal group, and were one of the best-known Philadelphia soul groups of the 1970s. They formed in 1968, and were composed of lead Russell Thompkins, Jr., Herbie Murrell, Airrion Love, James Smith, and James Dunn. All of their US hits were ballads, graced by the...
song "You're as Right as Rain" for their instrumental track "Eple
Eple
"Eple" is a song by Norwegian duo Röyksopp, released as their second single. In 2003, it was re-released as the duo's third single from their first album Melody A.M..- Commercial Use :...
."
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 trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky 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 G , is an American West Coast rapper and hip hop producer. He is also Dr. Dre's half-brother.His biggest hit is the song "Regulate" with Nate Dogg released in 1994...
's "Regulate". In addition, James is mentioned in a verse by André 3000
André 3000
André Lauren Benjamin , better known by his stage name André 3000 is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and actor, best known for being part of American hip-hop duo OutKast alongside fellow rapper Big Boi...
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
-Studio albums:-Singles:-External links:* [ Allmusic Biography]* *...
, 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.-Track listing:#So You Wanna Be A.....
.
The track "El Verano" from the 1977 album "BJ4" is used as a sample in the song "Blown Away" by the Cocoa Brovaz and also in the Masta Ace
Masta Ace
Duval Clear , known better by his stage name Masta Ace, is a rapper from Brownsville, Brooklyn. He appeared on the classic 1988 Juice Crew posse cut "The Symphony"...
Track "NY Confidential".
English Drum & Bass pioneer Adam F extensively sampled "Westchester Lady" on his 1995 breakthrough release Circles.
Ones "Night on Bald Mountain" is used in the video game God Hand
God Hand
God Hand is a 2006 PlayStation 2 gameGod hand may also refer to:-Video games:* Ken "Godhand" Mishima, a character from the PlayStation game, Ehrgeiz* Godhand, the demonic version of Lenny from Shadow Hearts: Covenant...
, and forms the soundtrack to a level of the same name.
N.W.A's "Alwayz into Somethin'" uses a sample of "Storm King" from the album Three.
"Nautilus" was used in video game developer Rockstar's "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a 2004 open world action video game developed by British games developer Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the third 3D game in the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise, the fifth original console release and eighth game overall...
" on the fictional radio station, Master Sounds 98.3.
"The Rhythm" by Kwamé
Kwamé
Kwamé Holland is an American emcee who enjoyed brief popularity in the late-1980s and early-1990s. He is currently a music producer sometimes credited as K-1 Million or K1 Mil.-Biography:...
the Boy Genius features a sample of "Look-Alike" from the album Lucky Seven.
"Can't Wait
Can't Wait
"Can't Wait" is the second single released from Redman's second album, Dare Iz a Darkside. It is produced by Erick Sermon and Redman, and contains samples from "All Night Long" by Mary Jane Girls, "Caribbean Nights" by Bob James and "We Write The Songs" by Biz Markie.The song reached number five on...
" by Redman
Redman
Reginald "Reggie" Noble , better known by his stage name Redman, is an American MC, rapper, DJ, record producer and actor. He came to fame in the early 1990s as an artist on the Def Jam label. He is also well known for his collaborations with Method Man, including their starring roles in films and...
features a sample of "Caribbean Nights" from the album Touchdown.
Solo
- 1974 OneOne (Bob James album)One is the debut solo album by jazz musician Bob James released in 1974.-Reception:Released in April 1974 this album charted at number two on the Jazz Album Charts.-Track listing:#"Valley Of The Shadows" -...
- 1975 TwoTwo (Bob James album)-Reception:This album is the second of a series of jazz-funk classics . Released in 1975, this album charted at number two on the Jazz Album Charts...
- 1976 ThreeThree (Bob James album)-Reception:Released in 1976, this album charted at number two on the Jazz Album Charts.-Track listing:#One Mint Julep 9:04 #Women Of Ireland 8:00 #Westchester Lady 7:23 #Storm King 6:33 #Jamaica Farewell 5:21-Personnel:*Bob James - Keyboards...
- 1977 BJ4BJ4-Reception:Released in 1977, this album charted at number three on the Jazz Album Charts. This would be his last CTI album before starting his own label Tappan Zee Records-Track listing:#Pure Imagination 5:22 #Where The Wind Blows Free 6:44...
- 1977 Heads
- 1978 TouchdownTouchdown (Bob James album)-Reception:It was a commercial breakout album for him that contained the song "Angela", the popular theme song to the 1970s television sitcom, Taxi...
- 1979 Lucky Seven
- 1980 H
- 1981 All Around The Town
- 1981 Sign Of The Times
- 1982 Hands Down
- 1983 Foxie
- 1983 Taxi - The Genie
- 1984 12
- 1984 The Swan
- 1986 Obsession
- 1988 Ivory Coast
- 1990 Grand Piano Canyon
- 1994 Restless
- 1997 Playin' Hooky
- 1999 Joy Ride
- 2001 Anthology
- 2001 Dancing On The Water
- 2001 Restoration
- 2002 Morning, Noon & Night
- 2002 The Essential Collection 24 Smooth Jazz Classics
- 2003 Bob James in Hi Fi
- 2005 Urban Flamingo
- 2009 The Very Best Of Bob James
Trio
- 1963 Bold ConceptionsBold ConceptionsBold Conceptions is the debut trio album by Bob James made on August 13, 1962. The album showed a cartoon picture of Bob James playing on his piano.-Track listing:# "A Moment's Notice" - 3:06# "Nardis" - 5:27...
- 1964 Explosions
- 1996 Straight Up
- 2003 Take It From The Top
Collaborations
- 1979 One On One (With Earl KlughEarl KlughEarl Klugh is an American smooth jazz/crossover jazz/jazz fusion guitarist and composer.At the age of 13, Klugh was captivated by the guitar playing of Chet Atkins when Atkins made an appearance on the Perry Como Show. Klugh was a performing guest on several of Atkins' albums...
)
- 1981 Two Of A KindTwo of a Kind (jazz album)Two of a Kind is the second collaboration studio album by Earl Klugh and Bob James released in 1982. The album received a nomination for Best Selling Jazz Album at the NARM Awards in 1983, and peaked at No.1 on the Billboard's Jazz Charts in January 1983.- Track listing :# "The Falcon" - 8:52#...
(With Earl KlughEarl KlughEarl Klugh is an American smooth jazz/crossover jazz/jazz fusion guitarist and composer.At the age of 13, Klugh was captivated by the guitar playing of Chet Atkins when Atkins made an appearance on the Perry Como Show. Klugh was a performing guest on several of Atkins' albums...
) - 1986 Double VisionDouble Vision (Bob James and David Sanborn album)Double Vision is a 1986 album by Bob James and David Sanborn. The album was a successful smooth jazz release receiving frequent airplay. The album spent 63 weeks on the Billboard charts, topping out at #50 on the Billboard 200.-Track listing:...
(With David SanbornDavid SanbornDavid Sanborn is an American alto saxophonist. Though Sanborn has worked in many genres, his solo recordings typically blend jazz with instrumental pop and R&B. He released his first solo album Taking Off in 1975, but has been playing the saxophone since before he was in high school...
)
- 1992 Cool (With Earl KlughEarl KlughEarl Klugh is an American smooth jazz/crossover jazz/jazz fusion guitarist and composer.At the age of 13, Klugh was captivated by the guitar playing of Chet Atkins when Atkins made an appearance on the Perry Como Show. Klugh was a performing guest on several of Atkins' albums...
) - 1995 Flesh And Blood (With Hilary James)
- 1996 Joined At The Hip (With Kirk Whalum)
- 2005 Angels Of Shanghai
- 2007 Ataraxis (With DeeyahDeeyahDeeyah , born August 7, 1977 in Oslo, Norway, is a Norwegian singer,music producer, composer, film maker and human rights activist of Punjabi/Pashtun descent. She adopted the name Deeyah in 2002...
) - 2008 Christmas Eyes (With Hilary James)
- 2009 Botero (With Jack Lee)
Fourplay (Group)
- 1991 FourplayFourplay (jazz album)Fourplay is the debut album of the contemporary jazz quartet Fourplay which was released by Warner Bros. Records on September 17, 1991. The album cover showed four pictures of the original group on a variety of musical instruments...
- 1993 Between The Sheets
- 1995 Elixir
- 1997 The Best Of Fourplay
- 1998 4
- 1999 Snowbound
- 2000 Yes, Please
- 2002 Heartfelt
- 2004 Journey
- 2006 X
- 2008 EnergyEnergy (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....
- 2010 Let's Touch the SkyLet's Touch the Sky- Personnel :* Bob James - keyboards* Harvey Mason - drums* Nathan East - bass* Chuck Loeb - guitar- Crew :* Ken Freeman - engineer, mixing* Andrew Hey - engineer* Sandrine Lee - photography* Mark Wexler - executive producer...
Classical
- 1984 Rameau
- 1988 The Scarlatti Dialogues
- 1989 J.S. Bach: Concertos For 2 & 3 Keyboards (Out Of Print)
Editado el 07/07/2011
Filmography
- 2005 Live at Montreux
- 2005 Bob James: An Evening of Fourplay Vol 1 & 2
- 2006 Bob James Live