Bob James is an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger, renowned for his role in popularizing smooth jazz. His work blends jazz with classical, funk, and R&B elements, and he is celebrated for both his solo career and his contributions as a founding member of the jazz supergroup Fourplay.
Bob James Career Highlights
1962: Released his debut album Bold Conceptions, establishing himself as a jazz prodigy.
1965: Won the Quincy Jones competition at the Notre Dame Jazz Festival, launching his career as an arranger.
1974: Released One, featuring the track "Nautilus," which later became one of the most sampled tracks in hip-hop.
1977: Gained mainstream success with BJ4, solidifying his place in the smooth jazz genre.
1991: Co-founded the jazz group Fourplay, working alongside Lee Ritenour, Nathan East, and Harvey Mason.
2018: Released Espresso, his first studio album in over a decade, blending traditional jazz with his signature style.
Bob James Band
Founding member of Fourplay, a jazz quartet known for albums like Fourplay and Between the Sheets.
Collaborated with artists such as David Sanborn, Grover Washington Jr., and Earl Klugh, Larry Carlton contributing to some of the most iconic jazz fusion records.
Bob James Awards
1965: Winner of the Quincy Jones Jazz Competition.
Multiple Grammy nominations for his work as a solo artist and with Fourplay.
2006: Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Instrumental Album (Fourplay’s Journey).
3 Most Famous Bob James Songs
- Nautilus
- Angela (Theme from Taxi)
- Westchester Lady
Bob James Scandal/Gossip/Trivia
His song "Nautilus" is one of the most sampled tracks in hip-hop, influencing artists like Eric B. & Rakim, A Tribe Called Quest, and Ghostface Killah.
Known for blending classical influences into his compositions, James often credits his early training in classical piano for shaping his style.
The theme song for the TV show Taxi, titled "Angela," remains one of his most recognizable pieces.
Bob James ratings
