“For many of his fans, Bob James is to jazz what James Brown is to R&B — the music and the musician go hand in hand.” (NPR Music) From his early years touring with Sarah Vaughan to founding smooth jazz supergroup Fourplay, U-M alumnus Bob James has explored a vast stretch of musical territory. A leading force in 1970s crossover jazz, the keyboardist, composer, and producer played an essential role on a series of hit records and has had a profound effect on the history of hip-hop music, with two of his songs among the most sampled in hip-hop history. James’s most recent album, Quartette Humaine, was recorded a month after Dave Brubeck’s death and pays tribute to the iconic pianist. His long-awaited homecoming will feature concert materials drawn from James’s extensive songbook, including tunes from his CTI Records catalog and Dave Brubeck compositions. A UMS debut.

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