Search - Bob James :: 12

Great album!

James R. Prater | Cleveland Tn. | 10/06/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Bob James continues to show himself a master of contemporary jazz in this, his last jazz album for what was then CBS records. It was out of print for a long time, but is now back in print on Warner Bros. The CD starts off with the rockish "No Pay, No Play", featuring Bob's new discovery, saxophonist Kirk Whalum. Also fearured are the Howlin' Horns with Blood, Sweat, & Tears trumpeter Lew Soloff. "Courtship" (the official basketball theme of the 1984 Olympics) features Bob on basketballs, and Marcus Miller on bass (and killer solos from Eddie Daniels and George Young). "Moonbop" features guitarist David Brown along with Bob at the keys. Brown again steps in for the CD's funkiest track "I Need More Of You". Kirk Whalum heads off the second half and brings along his band for "Ruby, Ruby, Ruby" (which the saxophonist composed three years earlier for his wife). The moody "Midnight" features Whalum, Eric Gale, and Gary King. Last is the "duet" between Bob and David Brown entitled "Legacy". One is reminded faintly of Chick Corea. Also of note is the CD's back cover with it's nostalgic newspaper clippings."

Great "Pop" Sense

Alf Kremer | Denver CO | 03/17/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I had a few Bob James LPs on vinyl, but this is the only one so far I've bothered to get on CD. This album features more of a "pop" sense than more of his other work, and it mainly avoids the generic NAC sound that can bore me at times. The members of the band each wrote one song, and they're mostly excellent numbers. Bassist Gary King's "No Pay No Play" is a rousing funk piece, and guitarist David Brown's "Moonbop" is an odd but intriguing uptempo number. Saxist Kirk Whalum (who was considered an "exciting young find" back then) contributes "Ruby Ruby Ruby", which isn't bad but not horribly compelling. Bob James' contributions aren't bad, either - "Courtship" (which I believe was used for Olympic basketball) is quite catchy, and the excellent "I Need More of You" is a tune that gets stuck in my head for days. "Legacy" ends the album on a very beautiful note, with its piano and acoustic guitar. Only "Midnight" fails to make much impression with me. Probably the best "pop" album Bob James could make."