The Essential Collection: 24 Smooth Jazz Classics

Bob James

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 12, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Koch Records
• ASIN: B0009UVC2G
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #151,397 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Night on Bald Mountain

2. Feel Like Makin' Love

3. Nautilus

4. Farandole (L'Arlesienne Suite No. 2)

5. Take Me to the Mardi Gras

6. Women of Ireland

7. Westchester Lady

8. Where the Wind Blows Free

9. Heads

10. Night Crawler

See all 11 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Angela [Theme from Taxi]

2. Touchdown

3. Blue Lick

4. Shepherd's Song

5. Thoroughbred

6. Reunited

7. Sign of the Times

8. Spunky

9. Miranda

10. Marco Polo

See all 13 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Full title, 'Essential Collection 24 Smooth Jazz Classics'. UK budget-price compilation. Includes unique 8-page history of Bob James and track commentary. Housed in a slipcase. 2002. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fine beginner's guide to Bob James, August 27, 2003

By	D. Lacalle Fernandez "Rock of Faith" (London) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Essential Collection (Audio CD)

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.

3.0 out of 5 stars Not quite smooth, April 28, 2009

By	R. M. Best (Michigan) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I love Bob James, but....., November 7, 2007

By	Michael G. Fox (Upstate NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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!