Bob James is best known as a progenitor of smooth jazz. A two-time GRAMMY Award-winner, he is a founding member of the contemporary jazz group Fourplay, and he has been called the “Godfather of hip-hop” because his songs are often sampled by rap producers. During this quarantine period, he has also been live-streaming daily concerts from his home on his Facebook page. Here’s a roundup of our favorite tracks from across his eclectic career.
Restoration
Bob James
Restoration: The Best Of Bob James
Westchester Lady
Bob James
Restoration: The Best Of Bob James
Angela (Theme From Taxi)
Bob James
Restoration: The Best Of Bob James
Night Crawler
Bob James
Restoration: The Best Of Bob James
West Coast Blues (feat. Harvey Mason & Bob James)
Lee Ritenour
Smooth Jazz
Touchdown
Bob James
Restoration: The Best Of Bob James
Kari [Edit]
Bob James
Restoration: The Best Of Bob James
Shamboozie
Bob James
Restoration: The Best Of Bob James
Horace
Fourplay
Silver
Brighton By The Sea (Remix ’01)
Bob James
Restoration: The Best Of Bob James
Celebrate Me Home
Kenny Loggins
Celebrate Me Home
Ashanti
Bob James
Restoration: The Best Of Bob James
Maputo [Edit]
Bob James
Restoration: The Best Of Bob James
Joy Ride
Bob James
Restoration: The Best Of Bob James
Mister Magic
Grover Washington, Jr.
Mister Magic
Dancing on the Water
Bob James
In the Chapel in the Moonlight
Nautilus
Bob James
One
Foreplay
Fourplay
Fourplay
Kickin’ Back
Bob James
Restoration: The Best Of Bob James
Waltz For Judy
Bob James
The New Cool
Ruby Ruby Ruby
Bob James
12
Altair & Vega
Bob James & Keiko Matsui
Bob James & Keiko Matsui
The Falcon
Earl Klugh
Two Of A Kind
Blue Lick
Bob James
Lucky Seven
Feel Like Making Love
Bob James
One
The Night We Called It A Day
Bob James
Bold Conceptions
Wait a Little While
Kenny Loggins
Nightwatch
Boss Lady
Bob James
Espresso