Since September 2010, this blog has recorded the journey of this music junkie as I attempt to listen to all the music in my CD collection. CDs revisited in their entirety from start to finish - no skipping tracks, no shuffle. Compact Discs only - no vinyl, no tapes, no files.

Sunday, December 2, 2018

Bob James - Playin' Hooky (1997)


Note: this CD released using HDCD encoding.

In which Mr. James gets together with some great guests and produces something a little different than his usual solo stuff. To my ears, the guests seem to push James a little and I'm digging the results. The collaborations hearken back to his '70s works while still sounding contemporary in the '90s (if that makes any sense). But it's all smooth and works great after a long day in the cubicle farm.

Notable names include: Steve Gadd, Fareed Haque, Dave Samuels, Boney James, Paul Brown, Chuck Loeb, Nathan East, and Rick Braun.

Playin' hooky from where? Fourplay? Or maybe his usual output?

Album chart peaks:
  • US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart.
  • Billboard Contemporary Jazz: #4

Tracks: My top picks are Playing With Fire, Mind Games, and Hook Line & Sinker. The only track I'll skip is the awkward take on Gershwin's 1922 tune, Do It Again.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Rameau (1984)
Two of a Kind (1982)

No comments:

Post a Comment