Search - Bob James :: Bold Conceptions

A long lost secret...

Matthew Shapiro | Detroit, Michigan | 07/24/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"While most of us know Bob James for his borderline jazz/classical/R & B CD's of the 70's and 80's...this was something that was done while he was still in college. Oddly enough, my father was at the University of Michigan at the same time that Bob James was, and even was a chorus member in a show that Mr. James composed. So he knew, and now I and the rest of the world knows, that Mr. James could perform straight-ahead jazz. I'm reminded of a story my dad would tell me about how in between rehearsals, Bob would amuse people by mimicking the piano style of Erroll Garne. These sides prove that Bob soaked up the music of his predecessors like a sponge. And in addition...you get "Trilogy"...a piece that predates some of the stuff Frank Zappa was doing by about six years!"

Amazing Dissonance from James - Who Knew?

Stephen Silberman | SF, CA USA | 09/09/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Bob James went on from this album to a career of much safer, middle-of-the-road music. "Bold Conceptions," however, is a startling, often brilliant excursion into boundary-stretching free piano trio music. Fans of Chick Corea's ARC trio or Circle group would be well advised to pick this up. Bracing, venturing deeply into dissonance at times, but also surprisingly pretty and lyrical, "Bold Conceptions" is the battle-cry of a young warrior in the company of musicians who understand where he wants to take things. The version here of "Nardis" -- perhaps the most haunting jazz melody every composed, written but never recorded by Miles Davis -- is at least a decade ahead of its time, as James reaches into the piano to pluck chords, taking the melody as far out as it can go. A stunning record. Only a couple of the bonus tracks -- "Ghost Riders in the Sky"? -- are less than inspiring."