Ron Carter - Blues Farm

Year : 1973
Label : CTI
Genre : Jazz
Style : Fusion
Website : Roncater.net

The first of five series albums recorded for CTI between 1973 and 1976 featuring some of the best New York studio musicians : the Carter's deep groove is reinforced by the presence Billy Cobham, Bob James, Richard Tee, Hubert Laws, Ralph MacDonald.  of a line-up formed around . Produced by Creed Taylor, recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studio, arranged and conducted by Ron Carter. All compositions by Ron carter except Django (John Lewis).

Ron Carter_piccolo bass
Billy Cobham_drums
Hubert Laws_flute
Richard Tee & Bob James_electric piano
Ralph McDonald_percussions
Sam Brown & Gene Bertoncini_electric guitar

01. Blues Farm
02. A Small Ballad
03. Django
05. A Hymn For Him
06. Two-Beat Johnson
07. R2, M1

Gabor Szabo - Macho

Year : 1975
Label : Salvation Records
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk

A Jazz Funk & Smooth Jazz album first issue on Salvation label by the most famous Hungarian jazz guitarist. Bob James contributes largely to the achievement of this album as arranger, producer and pianist. Gabor Szabo' group featuring Eric Gale, Harvey Mason, Idris Muhammad, Louis Johnson, Tom Scott, John Faddis. Titles include the huge groovy version of Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 (Franz Liszt), boogaloo style as The Meters, Ziggidy Zag by Harvey Mason, Macho & Time by Gabor. All tracks arranged by Bob James, Gabor Szabo & Harvey Mason.

  

Gabor Szabo & Eric Gale_guitar

Bob James_keyboards

Louis Johnson_bass

Harvey Mason_drums

Tom Scott_lyricon, saxophone

Idris Muhammad, Ralph MacDonald_percussion

George Bohannon_trombone

John Faddis_trumpet

01. Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2
02. Time
03. Transylvania Boogie
04. Ziggidy Zag
05. Macho
06. Poetry Man

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Idris Muhammad - Power of Soul

Year : 1974
Label : CTI/Kudu
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock, Jazz Funk

The first recording for CTI by Idris Muhammad and probably among his best fusion album. An essential of Fusion Jazz with powerfull rock beats, soul grooves & funky arrangements featuring Bob James, Grover Washington Jr., Gary King, Joe beck, Ralph MacDonald and Randy Brecker. Titles include the Jimmy Hendrix' Power of Soul, Piece Of Mind by Bob James, The Saddest Thing by Joe Beck and Loran's Dance by Grover Washington Jr.. Recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder. All tracks arranged and conducted by Bob James.
  

Idris Muhammad_drums

Bob James_keyboards

Grover Washington Jr._tenor & soprano saxophones

Gary King_bass 

Joe beck_guitar

Ralph MacDonald_percussion

Randy Brecker_trumpet & flugelhorn.

01. Power Of Soul
02. Piece Of Mind
03. The Saddest Thing
04. Loran's Dance

George Benson - The Other Side Of Abbey Road

Year : 1969

Label : A&M

Genre : Jazz

Style : Jazz Funk, Fusion

George Benson revisits some iconic songs from The Beatles' last album, arranged & directed by master Don Sebesky, produced by Creed Taylor for CTI and recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder. George Benson (eg, vo) is surrounded by a golden sextet including regular CTI session musicians featuring Herbie Hancock (org, p), Bob James (el-p), Idris Muhammad (ds), Freddie Hubbard (tp), Hubert Laws (fl), Ron Carter (b, el-b) & Ray Barretto (perc), supported by strings orchestra. Titles include four medley (Golden Slumbers~You Never Give Me Your Money, Because~Come Together, Here Comes The Sun~I Want You (She's So Heavy), Something~Octopus's Garden~The End) and "Oh! Darling".

Ron Carter - Empire Jazz

Year : 1980
Label : RSO
Genre : Jazz
Style : Contempory Jazz

Revealed and recruited by Miles Davis for his second great quintet from 1963 to 1968, alongside Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock and Tony Williams, Ron Carter has more than 2500 albums to his credit, recorded all over the world. Empire Jazz is the music adaptation of the Original Soundtrack from the Motion Pictures Star Wars & The Empire Strikes Back, composed by John Williams, and also his "most wanted" LP. Ron Carter is surrounded by various renowned CTI musicians among Billy Cobham, Hubert Laws, Bob James or Ralph MacDonald, all supported by the FOX fanfare. Titles include the most popular themes of Star Wars as the Darth Vader's theme or Love Theme, and a Bossa variation of The Asteroid Field with beautiful orchestration & the arrangements of Ron Carter.

Ron Carter_bass
Billy Cobham_drums
Jay Berliner_guitar
Hubert Laws_flute
Ralph MacDonald_percussion
Bob James_piano
Frank Wess_saxophone
Eddie Bert_trombone
Joe Shepley & Jon Faddis_trumpet, flugelhorn

01. The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme)
02. The Asteroid Field
03. Han Solo & The Princess (Love Theme)
04. Lando's Palace
05. Yoda's Theme

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Bob James - BJ 4

Year : 1977

Label : CTI

Genre : Jazz

Style : Fusion, Jazz Funk, Smooth Jazz

The final chapter of the Bob James tetralogy and last volume of the four discs serie produced for CTI from 1974 to 1977. As the previous albums, the rhythm section is based on Steve Gadd, Eric Gale, Gary King & Ralph MacDonald, including soloists Hubert Laws and Art Farmer, all supported by strings ensemble. Titles include original compositions by Bob James from Jazz Funk (Where The Wind Blows Free, Tappan Zee) to Smooth Jazz (Pure Imagination, Nights Are Forever Without You) with caribbean overtones (Treasure Island). All tracks arrranged by Bob James, produced by Creed Taylor, recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder.

Bob James_keyboards
Gary King_bass
Steve Gadd_drums
Eric Gale_guitar
Ralph MacDonald_percussion
Romeo Penque & Eddie Daniels_tenor saxophone & bass clarinet

01. Pure Imagination

02. Where The Wind Blows Free
03. Tappan Zee
04. Nights Are Forever Without You
05. Treasure Island
06. El Verano

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Bob James - Three

  
Year : 1976
Label : CTI
Genre : Jazz
Style : Fusion, Jazz Funk, Smooth Jazz

The penultimate Bob James album coming from the famous Smooth Jazz tetralogy "One, Two, Three & BJ 4" featuring guest musician saxophonist Grover Washington Jr.. "Three" crosses various musical jazz styles ranging from Funk (Storm King) to Smooth Jazz, passing by caribbean overtones including reggae tunes (Women Of Ireland, Jamaica Farewell). The Bob James line-up consists of his usual rhythm section based on Gary King, Harvey Mason, Eric Gale and session musicians such as drummer Andy Newmark & guitarist Jeff Mironov (added on "One Mint Julep"), all supported by horns section & strings ensemble. All tracks arranged & conducted by Bob James, recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder.

Bob James_keyboards
Gary King & Will Lee_bass
Harvey Mason_drums
Eric Gale & Hugh McCracken_guitar
Ralph MacDonald_percussion
Grover Washington Jr. & Tin Whistle_tenor saxophone
Hubert Laws & Jerry Dodgion_flute

01. One Mint Julep 

02. Women Of Ireland

03. Westchester Lady

04. Storm King

05. Jamaica Farewell

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Bob James - Two

Year : 1975
Label : CTI
Genre : Jazz
Style : Fusion, Jazz Funk, Smooth Jazz

Volume 2 of the Bob James' jazz funk tetralogy featuring CTI All-Stars musicians and special guests, songstress Patti Austin, bassist Gary King, drummer Steve Gadd & flutist Hubert Laws. As the previous "One", the formation is supported by strings ensemble and horns section including trumpeter Randy Brecker. Titles include  "Take Me To The Mardi Gras", one of the most widely used tracks in Hip-Hop breakbeat samples (N.W.A., Beastie Boys, Run-DMC), "I Feel A Song" featuring Patti Austin and variation on "Farandole (L'Arlesienne Suite #2)" taken from classical french composition by George Bizet. All tracks conducted & arranged by Bob James, recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder.

MUSICIANS : Bob James - keyboards / Eric Gale - guitar & bass / Richie Resnicoff - guitar /

Andrew Smith - drums / Arthur Jenkins & Ralph McDonald - percussions / Randy Brecker - trumpet / Gary King - bass / Steve Gadd - drums / Hubert Laws - flute

TRACKLIST : Bob James - Take Me To The Mardi Gras / Bob James Feat. Patti Austin - I Feel A Song / Bob James Feat. Steve Gadd & Gary King - The Golden Apple / Bob James Feat. Hubert Laws - Farandole (L'Arlesienne Suite #2) / Bob James - You're Right As Rain - Dream Journey

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Bob James - One

Year : 1974
Label : CTI
Genre : Jazz
Style : Fusion, Jazz Funk, Smooth Jazz

First of a four serie albums recorded for CTI  between 1974-1977, by american jazz pianist and arranger Bob James, proclaimed as the "Godfather" of the Smooth Jazz. Bob James plays with a large ensemble of musicians featuring Gary King, Idris Muhammad & Grover Washington Jr., all supported by a strings section. After a period as sideman for Sarah Vaughan from 1965 to 1968, he become one of favorites studio musicians for the Creed Taylor's new label, CTI. During the decade 1970, he played a major role in turning Jazz into Jazz Funk as producer and arranger. With "One", Bob James revisits great works of classical music, the Mussorgsky's "Night On Bald Mountain" & "In The Garden" based on "Canon In D" by Pachelbel. Others titles include original compositions by Bob James, "Valley Of The Shadow", "Soulero" featuring guest saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. and "Nautilus" (sampled by Run-D.M.C. on "Beats to the Rhyme" & Ghostface Killah on "Daytona 500"). Produced by Creed Taylor, recorded at Rudy Van Gelder studio, arranged & conducted by Bob James.

Bob James_keyboards

Gary King_bass

Richie Resnicoff_guitar

Idris Muhammad & Steve Gadd_drums

Ralph McDonald_percussion
Grover Whashington Jr._soprano saxophone

01. Valley Of The Shadows                        

02. In The Garden

03. Soulero

04. Night On Bald Mountain

05. Feel Like Making Love

06. Nautilus

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