Jazz legends Bob James and David Sanborn pay tribute to the iconic Dave Brubeck Quartet on their new album Quartette Humaine, their first collaboration since their 1986 platinum-selling, Grammy Award-winning Double Vision disc. An all-acoustic project featuring bassist James Genus and drummer Steve Gadd, the album (released May 21) is the heart of an ambitious national tour featuring the four musicians with a launch planned at New York’s Town Hall June 6.

This year also marks the fiftieth anniversary of James’ discovery by Quincy Jones at the Notre Dame Jazz Festival and the recording of his first album as a leader, Bold Conceptions. Since that time, James has released 58 albums, with highlights including the international smash “Angela (Theme from Taxi)” and his long-running association with the jazz supergroup Fourplay.

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Fourplay’s Esprit de Four is currently on sale as part of the Barnes & Noble 40% off Jazz sale!

PURCHASE HERE

My musical easy button…Having grown up listening to both Bob James and David Sanborn,  I can say without hesitation that I may be a tad biased but when you are lucky enough to have your musical horizons broadened thanks to the ever evolving talent of Bob James then life is indeed good. Earlier this year Bob James was kind enough to field some questions for this site and with that came the best reminder a critic or a musician could ever hope for…Always be open to new ideas and new ways for expressing your artistic voice.
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Marshall-born jazz musician Bob James has been busy since he last came to town a year ago for the second annual Jazz Festival that bears his name.

“It’s been a lot of touring,” James said, explaining most of the touring he has done is with his jazz group Fourplay. “These days, in our business, live performances have become more and more important. We don’t sell as many CDs as we use to, people get their music in all kinds of different ways … It’s always exciting for me to play in front of a live audience and I’m happy about that.”

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Fourplay graced the stage of the historical Florida Theatre in Jacksonville, Florida last night.

Check out the Tour Schedule to see when they are coming to a city near you!

BOB JAMES & DAVID SANBORN PAY TRIBUTE TO DAVE BRUBECK & PAUL DESMOND ON THEIR NEW ALBUM, QUARTETTE HUMAINE, AVAILABLE NOW ON OKeh

It’s the first collaboration between James & Sanborn since their 1986 Platinum-Selling, GRAMMY® Award-Winning Album, Double Vision, and features bassist James Genus & drummer Steve Gadd on the all-acoustic project.

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