Joy Ride
Adorned with contributions from roughly two dozen friends and guests,Joy Rideserves as a smooth-jazz group hug, and at its center is pianist Bob James, exuding warmth and ample feel-good energy throughout this disc's 12 selections. Concluding his fourth decade as a recording artist, the ageless pianist surrounds himself with a new guest list on almost every track, and the diversified results are flavorful, predictable, and eminently satisfying for fans of the genre. James's rotating ensemble at times included guitaristChuck Loeb(who also produced and helped write two cuts),Boney James(who glows on the album's lone sax-dominated tune, "Raise the Roof,"),Chris Botti,Lee Ritenour,Norman Brown,Jonathan Butlerand, well, on it goes. Name a musical flavor--urban, pop, funk, R&B;, even faint traces of world music--and James stirs it into his stew for all seasons.--Terry Wood