Bob James - Urban Flamingo (2006)

01.Choose Me

02.Miles a Head
03.Skidaway
04.Urban Flamingo
05.Lay Down With You
06.Fresh Start
07.Make It More Blue
08.Bobary Coast
09.Endless Time
10.Wingapo.

Personnel: David McMurray, Hilary James, Nathan East, Ron Otis, Wayne Gerard.

Credits: Backing Vocals - Bridgette Bryant (tracks: 9) , Hilary James (tracks: 5) , Kevin DiSimone (tracks: 5)
Bass - Al Turner (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6 to 8, 10) , James Genus (tracks: 2) , Nathan East (tracks: 9)
Drums - Billy Kilson (tracks: 2) , Louis Pragasm (tracks: 9) , Ron Otis (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6 to 8, 10)
Engineer - Ken Freeman (tracks: 1, 3 to 10) , Peter Dale (tracks: 2)
Flute - David McMurray (tracks: 3)
Guitar - Jack Lee (tracks: 9) , John Pondel (tracks: 5) , Perry Hughes (tracks: 1, 3, 7, 8) , Wayne Gerard (tracks: 4, 10)
Guitar [Acoustic] - Earl Klugh (tracks: 6)
Keyboards - Kevin DiSimone (tracks: 5)
Lead Vocals - Hilary James (tracks: 5) , Nathan East (tracks: 9)
Other [Er-hu] - J.J. Ma (tracks: 9)
Piano, Keyboards - Bob James
Producer - Bob James (tracks: 1 to 4, 6 to 10) , Jack Lee (tracks: 9) , Michael Colina (tracks: 5) , Phil Ramone (tracks: 5)
Saxophone [Alto] - David McMurray (tracks: 1)
Saxophone [Tenor] - David McMurray (tracks: 3)

For Urban Flamingo, his first studio album in quite awhile, Bob James has gone back to doing it the way he used to do it. While his recent smooth/contemporary leaning projects have been collections of slickly produced, tightly written songs, this one recalls the sound of his great 70s and 80s recordings. Lengthy tracks featuring lots of extended soloing that weaves in and out of James’ trademark melody lines - catchy songs and fragments that sound fresh and familiar at the same time. That’s what created the crossover appeal of signature releases like the groundbreaking “Touchdown.” They lured “non-jazzers” into listening to improvisational music because the framework for the improvisation was so catchy. Over the years he has tossed in a few songs like that between more radio friendly fare. Now we get a whole CD. It’s a brilliant, enjoyable, and very eclectic listening experience.