Bob James - 12 (1984)

Tracklist

1. No Pay No Play
2. Courtship
3. Moonbop
4. I Need More Of You
5. Ruby Ruby Ruby
6. Midnight
7. Legacy

12" is of historic value because it introduced saxophonist Kirk Whalum, who was still a year away from debuting as a leader with 1985's "Floppy Disk". One of the more noteworthy albums that Bob James came out with in the '80s, "12" finds him featuring the up-and-coming Whalum on three selections: the funky "No Pay, No Play," the pensive "Midnight" and Whalum's own "Ruby, Ruby, Ruby" (a slightly Spyro Gyra-ish number). While those selections are enjoyable, the strongest tune on the CD is James' haunting, Chick Corea-influenced "Legacy." Like most of James' projects, "12" suffers from excessive producing and arranging. But despite that shortcoming, it's certainly more creative than knee-jerk, by-the-book releases like "Heads", "Lucky Seven", "Sign of the Times" and "Touchdown". ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide