Customer Reviews

Essential 24 Smooth Jazz Classics

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This compilation is an indispensable purchase for lovers of smooth jazz. Much criticised and ignored by jazz purists, Bob James has developed a style of his own, and the evolution of his music is perfectly exemplified here. Covering his best music from the 1974 - 1985 period, this compilation starts with a dreadful funky cover of Night In Bald Mountain. So things can only get better from here. They do. As the compilation develops, the music improves, arrangements are less syrupy and a groovier feel is installed, allowing the smooth piano melodies free themselves in the fresher air of tighter and less busy instrumentation. So forget the critics, sit down, relax, pour yourself a Napoleon cognac and enjoy this superb collection. But start on track 2.

This wasn't his Smooth jazz best. The first cd and even bleeding into the second cd is mainly his more fusion jazz music. I was expecting more along the lines of his collaborations with Earl Klugh (Cool) or David Sanborn (Double Vision). Even Grand Piano Canyon was more smooth jazz than this.

A better compilation is Restoration: Best Of Bob James. However I reccommend the cd's I listed (Cool, Double Vision & Grand Piano Canyon) LONG before this one!

I love a lot of Bob James smooth jazz, and this cd has that, but it also has more of the funk jazz that I am not crazy about. The music like the start of the "Taxi" show (Angela's Theme) is the type of sound I was looking for. Not a bad cd, but not all I was looking for.

Great CD when you are in "work mode" and want to work and relax - at the same time. :O)

Bob James is a musical chameleon and I have enjoyed his music for years. He's one of the most "in demand" keyboardist, arranger, etc. of the last 30 years. This collection is an admirable project but my heart was broken when I discovered that "Unicorn" was not one of the tracks included. How could this have happened? Anybody who has listen to this track from James' "Sign Of The Times" CD knows that this track is completely mesmerizing, especially with Spyro Gyra's Jay Beckenstein sax work heavily featured. This omission leaves me puzzled.

Bob James has alot of vibes depending on who you talk to.He is One of the Most Sampled Acts Ever,but yet He was able to blend some tight Rhythms&Grooves over the years."Nautilus" is still a cut.this pretty much covers His career into detail.