as copied from allmusic.com
"Bob James' recordings have practically defined pop/jazz and crossover during the past few decades. Very influenced by pop and movie music, James has often featured R&B-ish soloists (most notably Grover Washington, Jr.), who add a jazz touch to what is essentially an instrumental pop set. He actually started out in music going with a much different direction. In 1962, Bob James recorded a bop-ish trio set for Mercury, and three years later his album for ESP was quite avant-garde, with electronic tapes used for effects. After a period with Sarah Vaughan (1965-1968), he became a studio musician, and by 1973 was arranging and working as a producer for CTI. In 1974, James recorded his first purely commercial effort as a leader; he later made big-selling albums for his own Tappan Zee label, Columbia, and Warner Bros., including collborations with Earl Klugh and David Sanborn. Listeners who prefer challenging jazz to background dance music will be consistently disappointed by Bob James' post-1965 albums."
Where the wind blows free (my personal favorite), Touchdown, Angela (Theme from Taxi), Take me to the mardi gras, Sign of the times....
mukhang all prearranged and also some of the solo's leave no room for
stretching out, pero okay lang....
ganun naman din yung mga albums ni Benoit (although he can do mainstream also)
loved this Tappan Zee stuff.
although he has recorded into other Labels, and i don't really have access
to his other stuff, pero very active pa siya... so mahirap mag "critique' since he has been into recording since the 1960's
for Dave Grusin who also arranges and does movie soundtracks (Fabulous Baker Boys) he's ok, pero syempre when you compare him
with Chic corea lalo na yung GRP concert in Japan, siguro outplayed nga si Grusin. better to discuss Corea with Hancock, Rubalcaba, et al
personally I think Grusin and Bob James know how to create delicate tone
textures with a Fender Rhodes. and they both knew how to arrange commercial jazz in the late 70's to 80's.
ang galing ng areglo ni Grusin ng My Funny Valentine duon sa "Fabulous
Baker boys.
