Bob James' crucial keyboard work as CTI Records session player in the early '70s prompted him to pursue an immensely successful career as a bandleader, specializing in funky pop music with elements of improvization and providing countless hip-hop producers with sampling fodder in the process. He would later forge fruitful collaborations with the likes of Earl Klugh and David Sanborn, among others, as well as record extensively for television. This playlist features James' instrumental hits and a survey of his many collaborations, including his chart-topping work with soul-jazz supergroup Fourplay.