Bob James
largely defined
pop
/
jazz
crossover in the '70s.
Two
, reissued by
Koch
, is typical of his output. Mixing together aspects of
,
R&B
and
classical
with just a touch of
James
(heard throughout on electric keyboards) put the emphasis on catchy melodies and lightly funky rhythms. The results range from insipid to pleasant, with a brass section, a string section, and vocalists (including
Patti Austin
) utilized to create what is essentially background music. ~ Scott Yanow