Customer Reviews

Grand Piano Canyon

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What a hidden treasure! When I finally pulled this CD from my collection and listened attentively, all I could think was 'Bob! Where've you been all this time?' This is a delightful album, full of variety, yet an enjoyable whole. Perhaps permanently fused to my Bose Wave CD alarm, I hear some new detail every morning. My favorite cuts include; 'Far From Turtle' (way mellow waking) 'Xraxse' (hello Hilary James!) and Lee Ritenour's 'Just Listen'. My fave, however, is '....stop that!', which perfectly fits its title! And yes, that IS a jackhammer! Amazing! Jam on, Bob!

There is so much to offer in this musical masterpiece! "Bare Bones" gets you shaking! There is a great horn arrangement here! "Restoration" marks the true beginning of Fourplay. "Wings For Sarah" is Bob's tribute to one of jazz's true divas, whom he accompanied and served as music director for from 1965-1968. "Svengali" is Bob's musical portrait of DuMaurier's sinister character. It features saxophonist Kirk Whalum, and is Bob's final performance with the late Eric Gale. "Worlds Apart" has a day-and night quality to it. "Stop That!" is Bob's tribute to the vinyl LP, which features the brass section again and Bob's protegee Max Risenhoover. "Xraxse" is Bob's musical telling of a story written at six by his daughter. Lee Ritenour's "Just Listen" is in the Jobim mold. We close with the smooth groove of "Far From Turtle" which is reminiscient of the "Taxi" theme. Overall, I'd say that GRAND PIANO CANYON is one of Bob's most outstanding releases.

This album is one of the first collaboration between Lee Ritenour & Bob James. Before this album I wish that these two artist would create an album together. Also these two combined with Kirk Whalum, excellent sax player, Eric Gale a foremeost guitarist, Harvey Mason an always drummer for Bob, Nathan East an excellent bass player. Of course we now know that the four musicians were the original members of Fourplay.

All the tracks on this album are excellent. But pay close attention to "Wings for Sarah" and the change on an abstract "Xraxse" and sit back & enjoy "Just Listen".

Truth be told 1990 was not a bad year for pop-jazz releases. During a time when the smooth jazz genre was firmly taking hold a number of people such as David Sanborn,Joe Sample and the guy who helped get the ball rolling Bob James had outstanding releases. And this happens to be one of them. Because of the hit or miss nature of jazz in general at this time I've bypassed this release over and over again simply for that reason. At best I expected it to be boring and uneven. What I didn't know is just how wonderful this album is musically. This is Bob's first fully digitally recorded album and happily this is part of the appeal of this album. The production on this album is clean but organic,polished but never glossy. This album doesn't emphasize electronics much at all in favor of allowing the wonderful session musicians such as Eric Gale,Harvey Mason,Nathan East,Michael Brecker and Lee Ritenour to really make a splash. Whenever any combination of these musicians get together anyway you know the music is going to be well performed and usually adventurous. "Bare Bones" pretty much gets everything to a wonderful start with a song that showcases Bob very well on acoustic piano and the very sympathetic rhythm section. Much as with Joe Sample's Ashes to Ashes from the same year this is music that is smooth without exactly qualifying as smooth jazz because the rhythms and in particular the basslines have a strong,impacting sound. "Restoration" is very melodic very much in the Bob James tradition and again maintains the live band flavor that makes this album so special. Same goes for "Just Listen" and "Far From Turtle";the combination of melody,rhythm and strong soloing from each musician involved bring this to the head of the class in terms of pop oriented instrumental jazz from this period. "Worlds Apart" and the Sarah Vaugh tribute "Wings For Sarah" are the most vital songs here from a stringly jazz standpoint and make excellent use of Harvey Mason's drum brushing and hi hats for a breezy,swinging kind of beat. Of the more uptempo tunes there's "Svengali"-a darkly harmoized street smart style 80's jazz-funk stomp with a flavor reminisant of what Miles Davis might have played during this general period. "...stop that!" is a powerful late 80's style funk jam with some kicking bass licks and this great stop-and-start effect. There's also a texured "tone poem" in "Xraxse",apparently inspired by a story written by James' daughter. Considering the fact that if Bob James had retired musically a couple years before this and still have been known as a musical legend it was a happy occasion that he could assemble an album like this and actually be able to say it was one of his better releases. So even if it seemed that someone like him should not have been that huge a recording entity at this point it would seem that at least this period of his musical legacy was very kind to him.

Bob James has a CD with interesting styles. The music is peaceful or grooving.
On a lot of tracks, Bob is listed as playing just piano. But, he actually uses synths (synthesizers) in addition to his piano. Musicians are (including the remaining members of "Fourplay"): Harvey Mason (drums); Nathan East, Abe Laboriel & Gary King (bass); Lee Ritenour (guitar, guitar synth); Eric Gale & Dean Brown (guitar); Kirk Whalum (sax); Michael Brecker (sax solo); Leonard Gibbs & Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Max Rissenhoover (drums, percussion, synths, "found" sounds, jackhammer, drum & percussion sequencing); and a horn section: Andy Snitzer (sax); John Faddis (trumpet); Jim Pugh (trombone) and others. Enjoy this fun filled CD!

This album is a must have for any jazz lover, keyboard player, guitarist, sax man, drummer....etc. I found this album on a cassette at a thrift shop and have been listening to it non stop for about a month on my daily commute of 45 min. All I have to say about that is whoever tossed this did me a huge favor. I plan to attempt to do a couple of these songs in the smooth jazz group I'm in. But there are only two I would even consider, the rest are too hard to imagine how they ever pulled it off; they're that good. This one's a keeper.

-MC

This CD is a overlooked gem. Excellent arrangements, going from the snappy to soothing, mellow sounds. "Just Listen" is one of my all-time favorites! Nothing spectacular, just a solid, heartfelt tune that is one of the most relaxing instrumentals out there. The way it segues into the last cut is great and the mood it creates is priceless. Take me away Calgon!

I have had this album since it came out...cassette and CD, both went bad over the years, probably from overplaying and summer heat. I ordered this great used copy and it is fine!

I purchased this CD as a replacement for a copy that I'd had, some years ago. Bob James is in a league unto himself, and I just love his musical mastery. I like all of the songs on this disk, but had purchased it, mainly, for my absolute favorite - which is 'Far From Turtle'.

This is one of my favorite Bob James compilations. Purely a classic in taste, sophistication, and style! All of the tracks are great! A must have in your contemporary jazz collection.