Customer Reviews

Lucky Seven (Reis)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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Bob James lays down the grooves again in the follow-up to TOUCHDOWN. "Rush Hour" is faintly reminiscient of "Angela". "Blue Lick" is a smooth slow groove, with some great brass riffs. "Look-Alike" is a bright piece featuring David Sanborn on the sax. "Big Stone City" is again reminiscient of Bob's music for the "Taxi" TV series. Bassist Neil Jason lends his vocal stylings to his own tune "Friends" (which was obviously inspired by Bill Withers' "Lean On Me"). Check out the key to this one: F-sharp (or enharmonically G-flat) major. "The CD closes with one of Bob's most ethereal tunes, "Fly Away", with it's chorale-like chord textures. This CD is perfect for joyriding with the top down on a summer day, or for just chilling indoors after a hard day.

Bob James,being a jazz funk keyboardist with a strong love of film and movie music developed a sound all his own during the 1970's.Despite it not being respected it never exactly sounds like anyone else.And nothing on 'Lucky Seven' certainly does-"Rush Hour","Look Alike" (with it's bumpilicious bassline) and "Big Stone City" all marry stripped back uptempo grooves with theatrical style melodies-for better or worse each would make terrific TV theme music if properly edited but they all end up too funky to ever sound corney."Blue Lick" and the vocal piece "Friends" are wonderfully done pop ballads,the former with a nice jazzy arrangement and the album closes with the beautiful "Fly Away",a minimal piece that one can actually float in!
True Bob James has recorded many albums of varying quality over the years but 'Lucky Seven' is among his best,that being due to the excellent production by James and the highly quality of the musicianship and songwriting.True even the upbeat songs are great chillout material but as part of the pre-smooth jazz fusion tradition this is a wonderful example of that genre of music!

This 1979 release is among my favorites from Bob James - it has the jazz funk sound of his other early recordings such as BJ4, Heads, Touchdown, and H. I fell in love with Bob James' jazz/funk sound back in the late 70's and "Lucky Seven" is one reason why (there is not a bad track on it). If you like the funky groove of Bob's other early works, you will love this recording! Another plus is that "Lucky Seven" includes two tracks with Eric Gale on guitar.....perhaps the best jazz guitarist that ever lived!

Lucky Seven, I believe, the 3rd of the Tappen Label effort, has that "CTI" feel to it. Add in Gary(the bottom) King on bass sometimes, with a new guy Neil Jason on Fender Jazz Bass and a vocal. Eric Gale and Hiram Bullock on the guitar. And, did I mention, Dave Sandborn appears here. Two of my favorite drummers, Idris Muhammed and Steve(the man) Gadd.Bob, is the man. Forget about Fourplay(just my opinion), Bob can really arrange, and conduct!When He was alone back in the day, He's up there with "Q",Dave Grusin(which I wonder, why they never made a album together?),and did I say The Duke and The Count? Get this CD, and listen to the arrangements. Listen to the song Friends, and Listen to the truth being sung by Neil Jason! Very Good CD