Keyboardist/composer Bob James steps out of his normal element and combines his western influenced melodies with traditional Chinese blends.  The results are quite remarkable.  It makes it really difficult to compare it to anything of his to date.  If you could only travel with Bob to this country and hear it first hand.  The Angels group is an ensemble of young musicians who have performed at the Java Jazz Festival, the Bangkok Jazz Festival as well as the Blue Note Night Clubs in Japan.  They are well versed in traditional Chinese instruments and are planning to tour the U.S. this year.

The first song entitled “Celebration” begins with light traditional stringed instruments before giving way to James familiar power chords.  Each group volleys back and forth as if to introduce the two cultures. James takes control with some clean piano before heading back into the chords again.  Jack Lee’s guitar solo is a nice touch before all sides get back together for a resounding finish. “Gulangyu Island” is eastern in its flavor of sweeping introduction.  James’ piano always seems to float above the other musicians.  Gulangyu Island is an island made famous because of its piano-laden past.  The island is also famous for its architecture and for being home to China's largest piano museum.  It’s only fitting for one of James numbers.

“Endless Time” is a beautifully arranged vocal featuring the soft spoken bassist Nathan East.  The interaction with the er-hu (a two string violin) makes this a one a nice love song.  James blends into the finale as the three finish together.  “Theme “Onara”” sweeps in with the chord like action highlighted with eastern instruments then giving way to James piano.  The pipa (similar to a lute) is a nice instrument to carry the chorus as it reappears after the soloists.  Harvey Mason keeps it going and they all finish on a positive note.  You could probably call “Angels Theme: The Invention of Love” the title track to the disc. James introduces the four as they weave their instruments at varying degrees.  The dizi (different sized bamboo flutes) and the er-hu are feature extensively.  “The Magic Paintbrush” begins with the four predominately as James lays a western edge to the canvas.  He follows their lead through most of this one although he’s featured on a staccato like solo before giving way to the resounding strokes of the pipa.  His western edge continues to shine just below the surface where the colors of red and yellow meet red, white and blue.

“Melodia: A Quiet Place for Two” is a dark two instrument affair featuring predominately the er-hu and James on piano.  He picks up the pace a little more in “Butterfly Lovers.”  The keys are bouncy and Mason adds punch to keep it going.  The er-hu here is a voice that places nicely with the western bass line.  Bob adds some clean piano towards the end that makes for a really nice closing.  “Dialogues: The Universal Language” is exactly that.  James begins the conversation and is joined in echo by the other members as they all converse on their own.  They all prove once again that music is the universal language that has no barriers.

You have to wait until the end to get the big surprise.  Bob remakes his “Taxi” theme and renames it “Angela with Purple Bamboo.”  It really is a great way to end the recording. The dizi plays the theme that we all know so well.  Bob introduces himself with the electric keys and giving way to piano.  From there the four other musicians take over for a really eastern flair before James drives back in with his keys once more.  Nice touch.

I think you should check this one out in the near future when you want to cross the Pacific to a land far from here.  Its eastern themes and ageless piano make this disc an interesting one to put on.  It would easy to scoff at this as just another Bob James release, but I think it really makes a statement of how this musical genius continues to look for new ways to spread music, culture, and goodwill all over the world.

- Harvey Cline