Bob James : Kirk Whalum - Joined at the hip :Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards

Bob James & Kirk Whalum - Joined at the Hip
Released 1996

1. Soweto
2. Kickin' Back
3. Out Of The Cold
4. Deja Blue
5. Midnight At The Oasis
6. Tell Me Something Nice
7. Tour De ourths
8. Ghetto, The
9. Prayer, The

Personnel: Bob James (keyboards); Kirk Whalum (saxophone); Jeff Golub, Hiram Bullock (guitar); Chris Walker (bass); Billy Kilson (drums); Leonard "Doc" Gibbs (percussion). Recorded at Carriage House, Stamford, Connecticut and The Hit Factory, New York, New York. JOINED AT THE HIP was nominated for a 1997 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Performance. JOINED AT THE HIP features Bob James and saxophonist Kirk Whalum as a team. After several appearance on one another's solo efforts, James and Whalum realized that they had similar playing styles, and as James said, "were eager to explore that compatibility in a pressure-free environment, [while] keeping everything loose and fun." Given that attitude, the album manages to break away from some of the stylistic parameters typically found on contemporary jazz albums. Whalum stretches out and lets the opening track, "Soweto," build over ten minutes. "Kickin' Back" is James' most spontaneous moment on the album, offering a laid-back and spirited jam. In addition to fine performances by James and Whalum, other fine musicians appear on the album. Guitarist Jeff Golub is particularly sharp, displaying his talents both as a rock and jazz musician on the romantic late-night tune "Tell Me Something Nice." A cover of the 1974 Maria Muldaur hit "Midnight at the Oasis" is performed by a special, but somewhat contrived, duo--James' daughter Hilary and Kirk's brother Kevin. Also covered is "The Ghetto," a 1970 tune by Donny Hathaway and Leroy Hutson.

"Bob James never ceases to amaze me. When I first met him he was sitting in front of a piano not looking at all like a pianist, so I didn't expect very much from him. Especially since he was about to accompany one of the greatest singers of our time, Ms. Sarah Vaughn, but when his hands touched that piano his brilliance became clearly evident. His musicianship reflected both his jazz and classical experience. He enhanced her performances beautifully. I later found him to be an incredible arranger who had a flair for pop music mixed with jazz and R&B. His recordings as a stable mate on CTI Records reflected a very listenable modern approach to jazz. As a producer he has created records that started a trend that transcends its time. As a member of the group Fourplay, Bob has once again shown his unlimited ability to adapt to any musical environment.