Now regularly playing for Lowcountry Jazz Lovers, Savannah resident Bob James got his break by writing music for a little show called Taxi.

With thirty-seven solo albums to date, Grammy-winning collaborations and an emblematic theme to an iconic series, Bob James, a smooth jazz revolutionary—as there was no such thing when he was coming up—credits serendipity in a large part to the success of his long storied career: But it’s about more than just luck. “One way or another, everyone gets a break, but it’s about what you do with it. You have to be able to deliver the goods,” says James.

Growing up in Missouri, James started playing piano at age 4. He studied classical music and was influenced by great 20th-century composers like Stravinsky, as well as avant-garde jazz artists. He was later discovered by Quincy Jones at the Notre Dame Jazz Festival and soon after became the pianist and music director for another jazz legend, Sarah Vaughan.

Serendipity struck when the producers of the soon-to-be hit 70s and 80s sitcom Taxi happened to put on an LP of his and decided they liked the mood. They invited James to score all the original music for the entire series. He was a little uncomfortable at the prospect of recording for television. “I had decided many years back that I wanted the freedom of doing my own music,” explains James. Fortunately, the producers granted James leeway to approach the score as he would any album.

He recalls going into the study, prepared with a variety of moods and concepts. Most of them were geared towards imitating the frenetic, day-to-day experiences of New York City cab drivers. He was surprised when the producers gravitated towards a slower piece that was later called “Angela,” after one of the main characters. Still to this day when most people hear “Angela” they visualize that iconic yellow taxi gliding across the Brooklyn Bridge out of Manhattan.

But he eventually left the big-time city life in New York for the slower pace of Savannah, where he now splits his time with northern Michigan. “Savannah has a rich cultural history, and I didn’t have to give up seeing good art and eating at great restaurants. I also love that they strive to keep their historic personality. I brag about that all the time,” he says. You can catch Bob James this coming March at the Jazz Corner in Hilton Head, and he is working on a new solo album. He also regularly plays with the group Fourplay. To hear some of his music or learn more about him, visit bobjames.com. To hear some of his music or learn more, visit bobjames.com.

Photo by Josh Branstetter