October 2024 – Born on Christmas morning, 1939, it seems Bob James was a gift to music.

Starting piano at age 4, his first piano teacher Sister Mary Elizabeth, who taught at Mercy Academy, discovered that he had perfect pitch.

His first professional music job was at age 8, he was winning contest ribbons at age 11, wrote his first band arrangement in his early teens, and he had a piano bar gig as his summer job at age 16.

In college in 1962, his band entered the Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival competition. They didn’t expect to win, but were trying to make a point showcasing avant-garde music within a context of nearly all straight ahead. To their surprise, they won. Soon afterward, Quincy Jones, who happened to be a contest judge, signed James to his first album deal and facilitated his first album release, Bold Conceptions (1963).

His first decade out of college in New York City, one experience led to another, and James honed his skills under CTI Records Founder Creed Taylor, working as a producer, arranger, and studio musician with Sarah Vaughan, Gabor Szabo, Milt Jackson, Stanley Turrentine, Grover Washington, Jr. (notably on Mister Magic), Maynard Ferguson and more.

His first solo album, “One”, included his version of Roberta Flack’s “I Feel Like Making Love”. He recorded it within weeks of recording with her version, using the same band. Both hit the airwaves at the same time.

Several albums later, James founded his own record label, Tappan Zee. The first resulting album “Touchdown” included probably his best known song, “Angela”, the theme song for the TV show Taxi. Bob actually composed all the original music used in that television series for its entire run.

In 1990, early sessions working on the recording Grand Piano Canyon with friend and drummer Harvey Mason, plus guitarist Lee Ritenour and bassist Nathan East, sparked a special music connection that led to the formation of contemporary jazz quartet FOURPLAY and their 10 amazing albums.

His early music has had an interesting relationship with and impact on hip hop, as well. “Nautilus” from 1974’s One and “Take Me to the Mardi Gras” from 1975’s Two – are among the most sampled in hip hop history. But there are many others including but not limited to: “Sign of the Times” sampled in De La Soul‘s “Keepin’ the Faith”, and Warren G‘s “Regulate”, “Angela” sampled in “Cab Fare” by Souls of Mischief, “El Verano” sampled in “Blown Away” by the Cocoa Brovaz and the Masta Ace Track “NY Confidential”, “Storm King” sampled in N.W.A‘s “Alwayz into Somethin’”, and “Caribbean Nights” sampled in “Can’t Wait” by Redman.

In 1995, James collaborated with his daughter Hilary on the album “Flesh & Blood”, a personal and professional gem in his life. They toured together across 15 U.S. cities.

In the early 2000s, James collaborations with Keiko Matsui as well as his international tours led to a close affinity for the Asian regions and culture. Thus, the 2011 devastating natural disasters in Japan compelled James. FOURPLAY’s powerful “Put Our Hearts Together”, featuring vocals by Seiko Matsuda, was a tribute to the disaster and spawned several benefit concerts and a full length documentary of James’ visit to the region.

While James is recognized as one of the progenitors of smooth jazz, his storied life of music has resulted in national and international awards for pop, fusion, smooth, and recognition among contemporary, hip hop, and classical. It’s a lifetime that deserves a book to tell the story. And at age 85, he doesn’t appear to be done evolving his musical journey.

We look forward to a few musical chapters October 25-26 at Middle C Jazz. TICKETS.

If you want even more stories about Bob James, visit his website.