This recording is going to surprise - perhaps shock - a great many people who think they already know the music of Bob James. After all, isn’t James the de facto godfather of smooth jazz? The multiple Grammy Award-winning pianist, composer and arranger who found fame and fortune in the 1970s and ‘80s by crafting an audience-friendly fusion of light jazz, pop, sweetened funk and smooth R&B? The founder of the best-selling crossover band Fourplay? The composer of the hit theme to the sitcom Taxi, whose ear-warm melody played on recorder and electric piano was all over the airwaves in 1979-80? This arresting trio album is comprised of two previously unreleased studio dates. It is James at 25 with one foot in the post-bop vanguard and one foot in the avant-garde. Are these tracks really by the same pianist who wrote the Taxi theme? You bet they are.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
The 2xHD Fusion Mastering System: In the constant evolution of its proprietary mastering process, 2xHD has progressed to a new phase called 2xHD FUSION, integrating the finest analog, with state-of-the-art digital technology.

The mastering chain consists of a selection of high-end vacuum tube equipment. For the recordings on this album, the original 1/4" 15 ips NagraMaster curve, NAB or CCIR master tapes were played on a Nagra-T tape recorder, modified with high-end tube playback electronics, wired with OCC silver cable from the playback head direct to a Nick Doshi tube head preamplifier. The Nagra T, with its four direct drive motors, two pinch rollers and a tape tension head, has one of the best transports ever made. A custom-built carbon fiber head block and a head damping electronic system permit 2xHD FUSION to obtain a better resolution and 3D imaging.

The resulting signal is then transferred into high resolution formats by recording it in DXD using a custom 2xHD Technologies A to D converter. All analog and digital cables that are used are state of the art Siltech. The 2xHD FUSION mastering system is powered by a super capacitor power supply, using a new technology that lowers the digital noise found in the lowest level of the spectrum. A vacuum tube NAGRA HD DAC X is used as a reference digital playback converter in order to A and B with the original analog master tape, permitting the fusion of the warmth of analog with the refinement of digital.