Restoration: The Best of Bob James

Disc 1
1	Feel Like Making Love 5:04
2	Nautilus 5:04
3	Farandole (L'Arlesienne Suite No. 2) Edit 5:45
4	Westchester Lady 7:25
5	Storm King 6:33
6	Tappan Zee 6:48
7	Night Crawler 6:18
8	Angela Theme from Taxi 5:43
9	Touchdown 5:39
10	Kari / Earl Klugh Edit 4:59
11	Snowbird Fantasy 7:05
12	Shamboozie 5:19
13	Brighton by the Sea Remix '01 5:00
Disc 2
1	Maputo / David Sanborn Edit 4:34
2	Ashanti 5:59
3	Restoration 5:46
4	Bare Bones 4:46
5	Movin' On / Earl Klugh 5:03
6	Lotus Leaves 5:59
7	Restless 4:32
8	Storm Warning / Hilary James 4:06
9	Kickin' Back / Kirk Whalum 6:00
10	Hockney 6:09
11	The River Returns 5:36
12	Mind Games 4:37
13	Raise the Roof 4:52
14	Joy Ride 4:39
15	Dancing on the Water 4:56

Barnes & Noble

Keyboardist-composer-arranger-producer Bob James cherry-picked the 28 selections on Restoration, and the double set is no ordinary career highlight overview. Drawn from 20 albums recorded over 27 years, the program -- marked by consistent devotion to craft and the imperative of finding refreshing contexts for old messages -- is a de facto seminar in the evolution of the genre now known as "contemporary jazz." Spanning 1974-1982, the tunes on the first half of Disc 1 ("Nautilus," "Westchester Lady," "Tappan Zee," "Touchdown," "Angela: Theme from 'Taxi'," "Kari") are a hybrid of sophisticated jazz and classical harmonies; contemporary dance rhythms drawn from disco, funk, and pan-Caribbean styles (drummers include Idris Muhammad, Harvey Mason, Ralph McDonald, and Steve Gadd); and elemental melodies lushly orchestrated by James and elaborated upon by such instantly identifiable solo voices as Grover Washington, Hubert Laws, David Sanborn, Eric Gale, Earl Klugh and, of course, James himself on an array of then-state-of-the-art keyboards. By 1986, when Disc 2 begins, the increased sophistication of electronic instruments has removed the need for large ensembles to generate swaths of tone color that meet Jamesian proportions. Within the pared-down context, James refines, reworks, and recontextualizes his themes, expanding his rhythmic palette and bringing his instrumental personality more prominently to the fore. James is a keen observer of his own work, and although the preponderance of the music on Restoration is unabashedly populist in intent, only a few tunes sound dated. Most are beautifully played, telling their own story. Ted Panken

All Music Guide

Pianist Bob James is known for his unfailingly congenial light pop/jazz music. This two-disc set showcases 28 tracks that highlight his work on Warner Brothers, including "Touchdown," "Maputo," "Westchester Lady," and his biggest hit, "Angela (Theme From Taxi)." Several of the tracks feature many like-minded crossover artists whom James has collaborated with, including David Sanborn, guitarist Earl Klugh, Hilary James, and Kirk Whalum. A pleasant set of background, albeit soulful, jazz and a good buy for the novice. Les Campbell