Bob James - One (Gold Vinyl)
ORDER LIMITED TO ONE ITEM PER CUSTOMER
Keyboards - Bob James [click here to see more vinyl featuring Bob James]
Drums - Steve Gadd (A1-B1) [click here to see more vinyl featuring Steve Gadd]
Drums - Idris Muhammad (B2-3) [click here to see more vinyl featuring Idris Muhammad]
Trumpet - Thad Jones [click here to see more vinyl featuring Thad Jones]
Trumpet - Jon Faddis, Victor Paz, Alan Rubin, Lew Soloff, Marvin Stamm
Cello - Seymour Barab, Jesse Levy, Charles McCracken, George Ricci, Alan Shulman, Anthony Sophos
Guitar - Richie Resnicoff
Pedal steel guitar - Eric Weissberg
Bass - Gary King
Percussion - Ralph MacDonald
Vibraphone - David Friedman
Soprano saxophone - Grover Washington Jr. (A1, A3)
Harmonica - Hugh McCracken (A2)
Alto flute - Romeo Penque, George Marge
Trombone - Wayne Andre
Bass trombone - Paul Faulise, Jack Gale, Alan Raph
Flugelhorn - Jon Faddis, Thad Jones
Violin - Max Ellen, Paul Gershman, Emanuel Green, Harold Kohon, Charles Libove, Harry Lookofsky, Joseph Malin, David Nadien, Gene Orloff
Arranged and conducted by Bob James
Written by Bob James (A1, A3, B3), Johann Pachelbel (A2), Richard Evans (A3), Modest Mussorgsky (B1), Gene McDaniels (B2)
1 LP, standard sleeve
Limited edition to 500 numbered copies
Original analog Master tape : YES
Half speed mastering
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : Gold
Speed : 33 RPM
Size : 12'’
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : Germany
Label : Evosound
Original Label : CTI
Recorded February - April 1974 at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Recorded by George Marge, Romeo Penque
Engineered by Rudy Van Gelder
Produced by Creed Taylor
Mastered by Stuart J. Romaine and Joe Jorgensen at CBS Recording Studios, New York City
Originally released in June 1974
Reissued in July 2021
Tracks:
Side A
- Valley of the Shadows
- In the Garden
- Soulero
Side B:
- Night on Bald Mountain
- Feel Like Making Love
- Nautilus
Reviews:
“Bob James' first recording for his Tappan Zee label is typically lightweight. Although Grover Washington, Jr. has two spots on soprano, and trumpeter Jon Faddis is in the brass section, James' dated Fender Rhodes keyboard is the lead voice throughout the six pieces, which include two adaptations of classical works. Only a lightly funky version of "Feel Like Making Love" rises above the level of pleasant background music.” AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow
"Although you may not recognize the name Bob James it’s quite possible that you’ve actually heard his music. Over thirty hip-hop groups have sampled his music, including A Tribe Called Quest, Ghostface Killah, Run D.M.C, Jeru the Damaja and several others. It’s kind of strange how a man could be sampled in so many popular rap songs yet be so underrated and forgotten in his own respective genre; smooth jazz. Out of the 30+ albums that James released during his obliterated career One is often regarded as the highlight. Mixing together smooth funk with light jazz James was able to create an assortment of sounds branching out to a variety of different styles and moods. At points James sounds like a combination of Sly & the Family Stone and Miles Davis with his painless combination of methods.
The main component to One would have to Bob James’s smooth piano playing. Using his Fender Rhodes keyboard Bob goes from playing danceable fusion tunes to dark, eerie jazz. Everything about One is smooth whether it be the fluid keyboard playing, the exotic guitar sounds, or the polished, bright production. The whole album is littered with sparkling keyboard effects giving it an extremely lightweight, bouncy atmosphere. In the Garden is a prime example of this mainly consisting of James’s sparkly piano playing and a laid-back, jazzy harmonica line. Valley of the Shadows is another highlight; it’s nearly ten minutes of spooky tribal percussion, eerie backing vocals, and creamy guitar playing. Whether it be a slow, spirited song or an upbeat funk tune James always makes his music sound so flowing and sinuous. Nautilis is a beautiful funk inspired piece propelled by a slick bassline and subtle keyboard touches that join together effortlessly creating a homogenous combo of jazz and R&B. One is classified as a jazz album yet there is minimal usage of brass instruments. Instead the album is much more guitar and piano based giving it heavy influences of rock, funk, and R&B.
Despite the fact that jazz music isn’t looked upon as accessible Bob James is able to create an uncomplicated, almost effortless jazz album. Even those who aren’t very interested in jazz music should still give One a listen; the album offers a palette of different of sounds and instruments in a very accessible manner. Although One isn’t an extremely flashy or remarkable recording it is an incredibly fun, relaxing, and interesting album.” Sputnik Music, October 2007
Ratings :
Discogs: 4.48 / 5 ; AllMusic: 4 / 5