(Contemporary Jazz, Smooth Jazz) Bob James - Urban Flamingo - 2006, FLAC (image+.cue) lossless

allaboutjazz.com
Bob James has never decided whether he's a jazz musician or an R&B musician. He doesn't have to—he can be both, simultaneously, playing funky, infectious tunes that are melodic and groove hard. Urban Flamingo, his most recent effort, could be written off simply as "lifestyle music," or smooth jazz doomed to become background ambience at wine tastings and on weekend boat trips. But pay more attention to James' compositions and soloing and you'll find there is much more at work here.
Urban Flamingo features James with his Michigan-based quintet of bassist Al Turner, drummer Ron Otis, guitarist Perry Hughes and saxophonist David McMurray. The disc opens with "Choose Me," which has James jamming over the chord changes of a funky blues. While the primarily electric instrumentation and McMurray's often syrupy saxophone playing will undoubtedly turn off mainstream-minded listeners, they will appeal to those who are looking for a pop or R&B-oriented jazz sound.
Of the many guests present on the disc, highlights include the leader's daughter, Hilary James, who takes a pleasant vocal turn on "Lay Down with You," which she co-wrote; and bassist Nathan East (of James' Fourplay supergroup).
The hands-down highlight of the disc is "Niles Ahead, which harkens back to James' work from the 1970s. This acoustic tour de force allows James and his rhythm section the chance to really show off their jazz chops. It's a pity there isn't more of the same on Urban Flamingo. This piece leaves me hoping that James will consider an album of acoustic tunes in the near future.
AMG:
After revisiting his straight-ahead jazz roots on 2004′s Take It from the Top, legendary keyboardist/composer Bob James returns to his bread and butter smooth jazz sound on Urban Flamingo. This time around James digs into his synthesizer chops for a set of relatively tepid and pop-oriented tracks that have more to do with contemporary soft rock and R&B than actual jazz. To these ends, James’ daughter Hilary James takes a pleasant vocal turn on “Lay Down with You,” while the funky “Niles Ahead” does reveal James’ more organic bent and harks back to his classic ’70s albums. However, the majority of the journeyman artist’s compositions here will do little to expand his audience beyond die-hard pop-jazz aficionados.

Piano, Keyboards – Bob James
Keyboards – Kevin DiSimone (tracks: 5)
Saxophone Alto – David McMurray (tracks: 1)
Saxophone Tenor – David McMurray (tracks: 3)
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)
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)
Backing Vocals – Bridgette Bryant (tracks: 9) , Hilary James (tracks: 5) , Kevin DiSimone (tracks: 5)
Lead Vocals – Hilary James (tracks: 5) , Nathan East (tracks: 9)