Joy Ride

Bob James | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 24, 1999)
• Original Release Date: August 24, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B00000JQZD
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #61,871 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Take Me There

2. Raise the Roof

3. It's All Right

4. Swingset

5. Joy Ride

6. What's Up

7. Fly By

8. The First Time

9. Strollin'

10. Sweet Talk Me Now

11. Trade Winds

12. Bisso Baba

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Adorned with contributions from roughly two dozen friends and guests, Joy Ride serves as a smooth-jazz group hug, and at its center is pianist Bob James, exuding warmth and ample feel-good energy throughout this disc's 12 selections. Concluding his fourth decade as a recording artist, the ageless pianist surrounds himself with a new guest list on almost every track, and the diversified results are flavorful, predictable, and eminently satisfying for fans of the genre. James's rotating ensemble at times included guitarist Chuck Loeb (who also produced and helped write two cuts), Boney James (who glows on the album's lone sax-dominated tune, "Raise the Roof,"), Chris Botti, Lee Ritenour, Norman Brown, Jonathan Butler and, well, on it goes. Name a musical flavor--urban, pop, funk, R&B, even faint traces of world music--and James stirs it into his stew for all seasons. --Terry Wood

From Jazziz

On Bob James' new Joy Ride, he decided to wear one less hat than on his last CD. "I wanted to focus more on the music-making and to utilize the talents of some of the great producers with whom I've worked in the past," says the keyboardist. Some of those great producers include Michael Colina, Paul Brown, and Chuck Loeb. "It was such a fascinating challenge to collaborate with all these different guys, each with different approaches to making music," says James. "It was even more interesting to discover that the album ended up with what I think is a very cohesive style." "Raise the Roof," was produced by Paul Brown.

--- JAZZIZ Magazine Copyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Joy Ride I Have Ever Been On!, November 6, 1999

By 

Renee Chambers "rauru" (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Joy Ride (Audio CD)

This CD is very, very good. Just start off with "Take Me There" and when you get to #2 "Raise The Roof" Boney James can do it for you. You will get stuck there. This CD not only has Bob at his best and the Master Sax player, Boney James, but also Chuck Loeb, Kim Waters, Norman Brown, Lee Ritenour, Four Play, Brian Culbertson, Chris Botti, Jonathan Butler, all who have contributed their talent to the music on this CD -- and the guest list goes on. Between "Take Me There" and "Raise The Roof" you cannot resist being on this "Joy Ride." You will be playing this CD over and over again (and for sure #2). This CD is headed straight to #1.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Every track is great, January 8, 2000

By 

djdjdjdjdjdj9 "djdjdjdjdjdj9" (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Joy Ride (Audio CD)

There are very few CDs where every track is great, and "Joy Ride" is one of them. Just put it in and hit 'shuffle'. This CD has some very intricate piano pieces, none of which are too wild or take on strange tangents. Bob James invited several other professionals like Boney James and Fourplay to perform on the CD, making it truly amazing. This CD does not contain any of the slower "Playboy" style of jazz. All of it is clean and wonderful to hear. [Bass enthusiasts won't be disappointed; the bass lines are full of off beats and fills] If you're a fan of wonderful piano music, this ranks up there with Jim Brickman and Erik JoHansen. Definitely buy it!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great smooth jazz., August 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Joy Ride (Audio CD)

This latest effort from Bob James can only be classified as great smooth jazz. I'm listening to it as I write this review, and the first five compositions have been outstanding. Some of the finest smooth jazz artist accompany Bob James on this CD. One is Chuck Loeb, whose influence is prominent. Too bad Loeb didn't put the same effort in his latest release "Listen" which is not as good as his last two efforts. In any event, back to Bob James, if you are a baby boomer or like Baby Boomer music taste, buy this CD; its Bob James at his creative best.