Bob James - One (1974) [2021 DSD64]

First released in 1974, One is the second solo album by jazz keyboardist Bob James. Bob enlisted a string of experienced Jazz players including Steve Gadd and Idris Muhammad on drums, Grover Washington on Sax and Gary King on bass. Led by the maestro himself on keyboards, One is a lush, experimental Jazz Funk record, excitingly hovering at the forefront of where music can take your soul. Produced by Creed Taylor and recorded at the famous Van Gelder Studios, the record is a monument of progressive musical greatness. It was an important album in the early smooth jazz genre and is famous for it's end track, 'Nautilus' which became important to hip-hop as one of the most sampled tracks in American music. In the 46 years since the release of One, producers have interpolated or sampled 'Nautilus' over 350 times. This is a brilliantly written and performed genre- defying set of superb tracks. 'In The Garden' and 'Night on Bald Mountain' are wonderful adaptations of two very different pieces of classical music - totally engaging for anyone who appreciates complex arrangements made funky and jazzy and played with consummate musicianship. 'Soulero' is a wonderful bolero-style piece, building layers of beautiful tones and rhythms.evosound remastered the album using hi-resolution digital transfers from the original analogue master tapes.

Tracks:

01. Valley Of The Shadows 9:42
02. In The Garden 3:06
03. Soulero 3:22
04. Night On Bald Mountain 5:51
05. Feel Like Making Love 6:40
06. Nautilus 5:08

Personnel:

Keyboards: Bob James
Bass: Gary King
Drums: Steve Gadd, Idris Muhammad (on Feel Like Making Love and Nautilus)
Guitar: Richie Resnicoff
Pedal Steel Guitar: Eric Weissberg (on In The Garden)
Percussion: Ralph MacDonald
Vibes: Dave Friedman
Soprano Saxophone: Grover Washington Jr. (on Soulero and Valley Of The Shadows)
Harmonica: Hugh McCracken (on In The Garden)
Trumpet: Jon Faddis (and flugelhorn), Thad Jones (and flugelhorn), Victor Paz, Alan Rubin, Lew Soloff, Marvin Stamm
Trombone: Wayne Andre
Bass Trombone: Paul Faulise, Jack Gale, Alan Raph
Alto Flute and Recorder: George Marge, Romeo Penque
Violin: Max Ellen, Paul Gershman, Emanuel Green, Harold Kohon, Charles Libove, Harry Lookofsky, Joe Malin, David Nadien, Gene Orloff
Cello: Seymour Barab, Jesse Levy, Charles McCracken, George Ricci, Alan Shulman, Anthony Sophos