http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.17728&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rssBob James' popularity as a smooth jazz pianist has sometimes obscured the fact that he's also a fine bop and fusion musician. James was discovered by Quincy Jones while he was still a college student and his 1962 debut <I>Bold Conceptions</I> shows how well versed he is in hard bop. He quickly went on to become Sarah Vaughan's piano accompanist but during this same period he started breaking ground in the world of electronic music by combining (then) new computer technology with jazz. While his releases from the 1960s were critically well received, in the early '70s, James cut a series fusion albums on which he usually played the Rhodes, Clavinet or other electric keyboards. The albums <I>One</I>, <I>Two</I>, and <I>Three</I> combined solid jazz musicianship, with a breezy funk vibe and clever easy listening arrangements. While they were considered jazz sellouts at the time of release, these discs have aged very well and often show up as hip-hop and electronica samples. By the late 1970's, James was one the top-selling artists in jazz when his melancholy theme song and incidental music for the excellent sitcom <I>Taxi</I> brought his music to a whole new audience. James has become more and more mainstream as the decades have progressed but that partly stems from the fact that he helped create the sonic template and textures for smooth jazz. James currently divides most of his time between cutting very commercial instrumentals and R&B heavy smooth jazz (often with his all-star band Fourplay) but he still keeps his hand in the acoustic jazz world. His superb 1996 release <I>Straight Up</I> proved that his more exploratory albums can actually sell just as well as his more commercial products. Besides his soundtrack work on <I>Taxi</I>, James has also recorded film scores for director Sidney Lumet. - Nick DedinaPop-Jazzen720Fri, 1 Jan 2010 08:15:04 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.17728&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss Bob James' popularity as a smooth jazz pianist has sometimes obscured the fact that he's also a fine bop and fusion musician. James was discovered by Quincy Jones while he was still a college student and his 1962 debut <I>Bold Conceptions</I> shows how well versed he is in hard bop. He quickly went on to become Sarah Vaughan's piano accompanist but during this same period he started breaking ground in the world of electronic music by combining (then) new computer technology with jazz. While his releases from the 1960s were critically well received, in the early '70s, James cut a series fusion albums on which he usually played the Rhodes, Clavinet or other electric keyboards. The albums <I>One</I>, <I>Two</I>, and <I>Three</I> combined solid jazz musicianship, with a breezy funk vibe and clever easy listening arrangements. While they were considered jazz sellouts at the time of release, these discs have aged very well and often show up as hip-hop and electronica samples. By the late 1970's, James was one the top-selling artists in jazz when his melancholy theme song and incidental music for the excellent sitcom <I>Taxi</I> brought his music to a whole new audience. James has become more and more mainstream as the decades have progressed but that partly stems from the fact that he helped create the sonic template and textures for smooth jazz. James currently divides most of his time between cutting very commercial instrumentals and R&B heavy smooth jazz (often with his all-star band Fourplay) but he still keeps his hand in the acoustic jazz world. His superb 1996 release <I>Straight Up</I> proved that his more exploratory albums can actually sell just as well as his more commercial products. Besides his soundtrack work on <I>Taxi</I>, James has also recorded film scores for director Sidney Lumet. - Nick Dedina http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2750453&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss Pop-Jazz Wed, 24 Jun 1998 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Bob James on Rhapsody Online 2750453 tra.2750453 Bob James art.17728 0.0 Best Of Smooth Jazz, Vol. 3: One-On-One alb.114088 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/5/7/8/8/588875_170x170.jpg 1998-06-23 00:00:00.0 1998-06-24 00:00:00.0 true Mind Games tra.2750453 278000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2750453&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2750453&variant=data&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.9162532&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss Pop-Jazz Mon, 1 Jan 1979 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Bob James on Rhapsody Online 9162532 tra.9162532 Bob James art.17728 0.99 One On One alb.9157730 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/4/9/2/772940_170x170.jpg 2006-01-24 00:00:00.0 1979-01-01 00:00:00.0 true I'll Never See You Smile Again tra.9162532 328000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.9162532&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.9162532&variant=data&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2644373&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss Pop-Jazz Tue, 28 Oct 1997 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Bob James on Rhapsody Online 2644373 tra.2644373 Bob James art.17728 0.0 Best Of Smooth Jazz, Vol. 1 alb.102589 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/1/8/8/588813_170x170.jpg 1997-10-28 00:00:00.0 1997-10-28 00:00:00.0 true Angela (Theme From "Taxi") tra.2644373 341000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2644373&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2644373&variant=data&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.9162531&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss Pop-Jazz Mon, 1 Jan 1979 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Bob James on Rhapsody Online 9162531 tra.9162531 Bob James art.17728 0.99 One On One alb.9157730 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/4/9/2/772940_170x170.jpg 2006-01-24 00:00:00.0 1979-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Mallorca tra.9162531 288000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.9162531&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.9162531&variant=data&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2840198&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss Pop-Jazz Tue, 7 Oct 1997 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Bob James on Rhapsody Online 2840198 tra.2840198 Bob James art.17728 0.99 Warner Bros. Jazz Christmas Party alb.119005 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/5/7/7/1277754_170x170.jpg 2003-03-21 00:00:00.0 1997-10-07 00:00:00.0 true Personent Hodie (Sing Aloud On This Day) tra.2840198 288000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2840198&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2840198&variant=data&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1982629&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss Pop-Jazz Mon, 1 Jan 1990 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Bob James on Rhapsody Online 1982629 tra.1982629 Bob James art.17728 0.99 Grand Piano Canyon alb.132525 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/8/6/7/1287683_170x170.jpg 2005-01-18 00:00:00.0 1990-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Restoration tra.1982629 346000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1982629&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1982629&variant=data&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1982632&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss Pop-Jazz Mon, 1 Jan 1990 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Bob James on Rhapsody Online 1982632 tra.1982632 Bob James art.17728 0.99 Grand Piano Canyon alb.132525 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/8/6/7/1287683_170x170.jpg 2005-01-18 00:00:00.0 1990-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Worlds Apart tra.1982632 271000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1982632&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1982632&variant=data&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1982630&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss Pop-Jazz Mon, 1 Jan 1990 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Bob James on Rhapsody Online 1982630 tra.1982630 Bob James art.17728 0.99 Grand Piano Canyon alb.132525 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/8/6/7/1287683_170x170.jpg 2005-01-18 00:00:00.0 1990-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Wings For Sarah tra.1982630 336000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1982630&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1982630&variant=data&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2750460&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss Pop-Jazz Wed, 24 Jun 1998 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Bob James on Rhapsody Online 2750460 tra.2750460 Bob James art.17728 0.0 Best Of Smooth Jazz, Vol. 3: One-On-One alb.114088 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/5/7/8/8/588875_170x170.jpg 1998-06-23 00:00:00.0 1998-06-24 00:00:00.0 true More Than Friends tra.2750460 344000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2750460&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2750460&variant=data&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7477125&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss Pop-Jazz Tue, 1 Jan 2002 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Bob James on Rhapsody Online 7477125 tra.7477125 Bob James art.17728 0.99 The Essential Collection: 24 Smooth Jazz Classics alb.7472655 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/1/2/6/726212_170x170.jpg 2005-07-12 00:00:00.0 2002-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Westchester Lady tra.7477125 447000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7477125&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7477125&variant=data&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2750238&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss Pop-Jazz Tue, 23 Jun 1998 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Bob James on Rhapsody Online 2750238 tra.2750238 Bob James art.17728 0.0 Best Of Smooth Jazz, Vol. 2 alb.116674 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/7/8/8/588874_170x170.jpg 1998-06-23 00:00:00.0 1998-06-23 00:00:00.0 true Since I Fell For You tra.2750238 231000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2750238&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2750238&variant=data&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.797861&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss Pop-Jazz Mon, 7 Jul 1986 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Bob James on Rhapsody Online 797861 tra.797861 Bob James art.17728 0.99 Double Vision alb.304983 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/5/2/7/7/1277725_170x170.jpg 2002-12-20 00:00:00.0 1986-07-07 00:00:00.0 true Maputo tra.797861 409000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.797861&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.797861&variant=data&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2055348&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss Pop-Jazz Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Bob James on Rhapsody Online 2055348 tra.2055348 Bob James art.17728 0.99 Cool alb.235902 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/4/6/1/1291647_170x170.jpg 2007-10-16 00:00:00.0 2007-10-16 00:00:00.0 true Miniature tra.2055348 164000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2055348&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2055348&variant=data&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1982634&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss Pop-Jazz Mon, 1 Jan 1990 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Bob James on Rhapsody Online 1982634 tra.1982634 Bob James art.17728 0.99 Grand Piano Canyon alb.132525 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/8/6/7/1287683_170x170.jpg 2005-01-18 00:00:00.0 1990-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Xraxse tra.1982634 272000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1982634&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1982634&variant=data&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.797867&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss Pop-Jazz Mon, 7 Jul 1986 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Bob James on Rhapsody Online 797867 tra.797867 Bob James art.17728 0.99 Double Vision alb.304983 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/5/2/7/7/1277725_170x170.jpg 2002-12-20 00:00:00.0 1986-07-07 00:00:00.0 true You Don't Know Me tra.797867 336000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.797867&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.797867&variant=data&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.9326519&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss Pop-Jazz Tue, 21 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Bob James on Rhapsody Online 9326519 tra.9326519 Bob James art.17728 0.99 Urban Flamingo alb.9326302 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/1/8/3/783816_170x170.jpg 2006-02-21 00:00:00.0 2006-02-21 00:00:00.0 true Skidaway tra.9326519 396000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.9326519&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.9326519&variant=data&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1997390&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss Pop-Jazz Thu, 1 Jan 1976 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Bob James on Rhapsody Online 1997390 tra.1997390 Bob James art.17728 0.99 Three alb.215950 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/5/2/4/7/387425_170x170.jpg 2005-08-23 00:00:00.0 1976-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Women Of Ireland - (From "Barry Lyndon") tra.1997390 487000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1997390&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1997390&variant=data&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1982631&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss Pop-Jazz Mon, 1 Jan 1990 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Bob James on Rhapsody Online 1982631 tra.1982631 Bob James art.17728 0.99 Grand Piano Canyon alb.132525 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/8/6/7/1287683_170x170.jpg 2005-01-18 00:00:00.0 1990-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Svengali tra.1982631 289000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1982631&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1982631&variant=data&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23595386&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss Pop-Jazz Sat, 22 Dec 1979 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Bob James on Rhapsody Online 23595386 tra.23595386 Bob James art.17728 0.99 All Around The Town alb.23591343 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/3/4/9/1429433_170x170.jpg 2008-10-28 00:00:00.0 1979-12-22 00:00:00.0 true Angela (theme From "taxi") tra.23595386 439000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23595386&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23595386&variant=data&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.31065686&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss Pop-Jazz Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Bob James on Rhapsody Online 31065686 tra.31065686 Bob James art.17728 0.0 Christmas Eyes alb.31056906 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/9/5/4/1864596_170x170.jpg 2008-10-14 00:00:00.0 2008-10-14 00:00:00.0 true Ye Shepherds tra.31065686 202000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.31065686&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.31065686&variant=data&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.797951&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss Pop-Jazz Tue, 9 Aug 1988 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Bob James on Rhapsody Online 797951 tra.797951 Bob James art.17728 0.99 Ivory Coast alb.181538 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/6/0/9/1299066_170x170.jpg 2005-01-18 00:00:00.0 1988-08-09 00:00:00.0 true Orpheus tra.797951 515000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.797951&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.797951&variant=data&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.14220768&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss Pop-Jazz Tue, 21 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Bob James on Rhapsody Online 14220768 tra.14220768 Bob James art.17728 0.99 Angels of Shanghai alb.14219496 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/5/2/3/1023252_170x170.jpg 2007-04-10 00:00:00.0 2006-03-21 00:00:00.0 true Angels' Theme: The Invention of Love tra.14220768 297000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.14220768&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.14220768&variant=data&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.797983&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss Pop-Jazz Sat, 1 Jan 1983 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Bob James on Rhapsody Online 797983 tra.797983 Bob James art.17728 0.99 Foxie alb.184416 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/2/3/3/153324_170x170.jpg 2006-05-02 00:00:00.0 1983-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Zebra Man tra.797983 367000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.797983&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.797983&variant=data&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1982633&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss Pop-Jazz Mon, 1 Jan 1990 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Bob James on Rhapsody Online 1982633 tra.1982633 Bob James art.17728 0.99 Grand Piano Canyon alb.132525 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/8/6/7/1287683_170x170.jpg 2005-01-18 00:00:00.0 1990-01-01 00:00:00.0 true "Stop That!" tra.1982633 284000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1982633&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1982633&variant=data&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2055235&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss Pop-Jazz Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Bob James on Rhapsody Online 2055235 tra.2055235 Bob James art.17728 0.99 Cool alb.235902 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/4/6/1/1291647_170x170.jpg 2007-10-16 00:00:00.0 2007-10-16 00:00:00.0 true As It Happens tra.2055235 386000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2055235&variant=play&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2055235&variant=data&rws=%2Fbob-james%2Ftop-tracks.rss