The American pianist and composer Bob James made the experimental jazz record Explosions for the ESP label in the 1960s. But with the dawn of the seventies he radically changed course and became the king of funky smooth jazz, with the many sampled, orchestral records that he recorded for the CTI label. The American saxophonist David Sanborn was already a regular member of the jazz orchestras of
… James at that time and can also be heard with his muscular yet melodic playing on many pop records, such as Young Americans by David Bowie and Gaucho by Steely Dan. Quartette Humaine is a pure jazz album by this duo, played swinging and energetically and always catches the eye. Music that everyone knows - even without having ever consciously listened to it - from shopping centers, cruise ships and cocktail parties and of which the ignorant, praising or despisingly will say: this is jazz! These two smooth jazz icons (with third icon Steve Gadd on drums) enjoy it audibly. (MR)more
