Tag Archives: Bob James

Jazz pianist Bob James’ St. Cecilia virtual concert brings his holiday home into yours

Bob James, jamming’. (SCMC)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

The Michigan holiday home of Bob James, pianist and composer of jazz and much more, is always filled with music and filled with family. It will be the same this year, in this age of pandemic and self-seclusion.

But later this month, James will be inviting St. Cecilia Music Center’s virtual concert audience into his house for what St. Cecilia calls a “holiday performance from his Traverse City home including surprise guests” on Thursday, Dec. 17.

The virtual concert is free and available via the internet on a computer or smart television. For more information about the St. Cecilia virtual concerts see scmc-online.org/virtual/.

Bob James’ family will gather again for Christmas In Michigan this year. (Undated photo supplied by Mr. James)

“Since all the members of my family are musicians, the Christmas season always involves lots of music, both live around the fireplace and permeating through the house,” James said recently to WKTV. So, the concert “will be a family affair.”

And what kind of music might be performed at the Dec. 17 concert?
 

“I tend to prefer the traditional over the novelty,” James said. “I have released two Christmas albums, ‘Christmas Eyes’ with my daughter Hilary, and ‘Snowbound’ with Fourplay. I have performed music from those, and something from each will most likely be on the new set list.”

And, along with many musicians forced to record and perform in isolation these days, James’ Michigan home is no stranger to performance and recording.

Bob James (BobJames.com)

“In recent years I’ve had a home studio where I do most of my composing, and have even produced some final mixes here,” James said. But “my time in this studio has escalated dramatically during this year’s forced isolation.”

A Grammy-award winner, James has long, varied career in music. Discovered by Quincy Jones at the Notre Dame Jazz Festival in 1963, James recorded his first solo album, “Bold Conceptions”, that year. Dozens of albums followed through five decades. His composition, “Angela,” the instrumental theme from the sitcom Taxi, is possibly James’ best known work. But that is only only the beginning.

James set the standard for the smooth jazz sound in the late 1970s. “One On One”, the first in three collaborations with Earl Klugh, was awarded a Grammy in 1980 for Best Pop Instrumental Performance. Also about that time, “Double Vision”, a collaboration with David Sanborn, was another Grammy winner. His long-standing group Fourplay, with Lee Ritenour and Nathan East and later Larry Carlton, has also produced numerous albums.

Make a (private) party night of it

While the concert is free, Martha’s Vineyard concert packages, including a wine and cheese “goodie bag” of treats, can be purchased — and those purchases support St. Cecilia.

The special Martha’s Vineyard concert packages are available by pre-order and will be delivered on the concert date. All proceeds from these purchases benefit SCMC. Priced at $65, each package includes one bottle of wine — a red, white or bubbly — and a block of aged Gouda cheese, nuts, fig spread, crackers, veggie chips and gourmet chocolate. For more information visit here.

St. Cecilia’s virtual concert with jazz man Bob James now planned as holiday special

Bob James in concert. (Courtesy/BobJames.com)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

St. Cecilia Music Center’s scheduled virtual concert with Bob James will move from Nov. 4 to Dec. 17, according to an announcement from St. Cecilia. But the concert is now planned as a “holiday performance from his Traverse City home including surprise guests.”

St. Cecilia’s fall 2020 virtual concert series is free and available via the internet on a computer or smart television. For more information about the St. Cecilia virtual concerts see scmc-online.org/virtual/.

In addition to the rescheduled Bob James concert on Dec. 17, there will be a special concert by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center on Dec. 3 featuring Anne-Marie McDermott and other CMS artists.

Martha’s Vineyard concert packages will be available both concerts. The Martha’s Vineyard packages are a wine and cheese “goodie bag” package which can be purchased and supports St. Cecilia.

These special Martha’s Vineyard concert packages are available by pre-order and will be delivered on the concert date. All proceeds from these purchases benefit SCMC. Priced at $65, each package includes one bottle of wine — a red, white or bubbly — and a block of aged Gouda cheese, nuts, fig spread, crackers, veggie chips and gourmet chocolate. For more information visit here.