Bob James & Otto Greiffestein
- carlos21490
- Feb 11, 2010
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 19, 2024
There are times when, suddenly, the sky in front of you opens like a huge zipper and you can, for a fraction of a second, experience something that is unattainable under normal circumstances. I just went through one of those moments while working from home, surrounded by the two feet of snow that the last two storms brought home, as I was listening to a selection of old Bob James recordings (nothing to do with psycho-active medicines or drugs. Not at all!).
In a second, I was transported 30+ years into the past, back to 1979. Touchdown was the record that ‘Caracol Stereo’ constantly played and used for curtains of those programs that I used to listen while studying or relaxing on lazy afternoons with ‘La Hora del Regreso’. That is what I call Radio Days. It was spectacular, hearing the tasteful selection, combinations, and such great voices like Otto Greiffestein’s. I must have some of those programs recorded in cassettes in Colombia. Somewhere…
On rare occasions I stream La W, daughter of Caracol Stereo, but at least when it comes to music, it is a shame that there is nothing left from those days. I know I sound like one of those old men complaining about times gone, and maybe that is what it is… but maybe not! Just listen to this live take of James’ Angela; Just make yourself comfortable, turn the lights low, and let the music take care of you for 10:18 minutes. How can one not fall in love with this music?
Now, if you liked it, go and get the two albums listed below (if possible, get the LPs, or at least the CDs, so you can enjoy the artwork). Then, drop me a line and let me know how it was. I am sure you will see the sky opening too, and if you are close to your 50’s and lived in Bogotá circa 1980, you will also discover The Time Machine. No drugs required, thanks to Enrique París, Otto Greiffestein and Julio Nieto Bernal, among other visionaries:
Touchdown, by Bob James. Koch Records, Originally Released on 1978Just look at the list of players here: Earl Klugh on guitars, Steve Gadd on battery/percussion, Hubert Laws on flute, David Sanborn on sax… There is a reason why latter on James became the front man of the super group of smooth jazz Fourplay. These people almost created the subgender! Hard to pick a song. Angela, of course… no, wait. Caribbean Nights, maybe, or Sun Runner, perhaps. I don’t know. Fortunately, we don’t have to exclude any.
One on One, by Bob James & Earl Klugh. Koch Records, Originally Released on 1979This is a great combination of acoustic guitar and electric piano, pop music and smooth jazz. Easy to listen to, and at the same time deeply emotional. In my case, it has two pluses: The cover, a close-up photography of a matchbox that for some reason comes back in my mind, along with the cover of another James’ album with a huge color-contrasting photo of a hotdog; great pictures, The second thing coming to my mind when I hear One on One is an afternoon of conversation with school friends Rodrigo Afanador, Enrique Bernal and Mauricio Gomez, Great times, man, great times.
Okay, okay. I can hear you want an Encore. Here is one with Lee Ritenour on guitar & Bob James on Electric Piano (Fourplay at its best): Westchester Lady:
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