Bob James

Bob James is playing two nights at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, on Tuesday, February 16 and Wednesday, February 17, 2027. Both shows start at 7 PM. He'll be on piano, organ, and keyboards.

If you're not familiar with the name, you've almost certainly heard the music. James is a two-time Grammy winner who's been working since the early 1970s, when he got his start on producer Creed Taylor's CTI label. Over the decades, he's built a following that crosses generations and genres: to some, he's a hip hop icon, because samples of his work played a pivotal role in the foundation of rap; to others, he's the godfather of smooth jazz. He's often described as a musical alchemist, and the work backs that up, blurring the lines between jazz, soul, funk, classical, and hip hop.

He's still active, too. His 2025 duo album with saxophonist Dave Koz, Just Us, earned him his latest Grammy nomination, and JazzTimes has called him one of the biggest stars of smooth jazz. These Phoenix dates are part of the museum's 2027 Concert Series, sponsored by Sanderson Lincoln and produced by Producer's Circle member Tom.

Tickets run from $54.50 to $59.50, and if you're a museum member who gives $500 or more annually, you get 10% off concert tickets. Both shows are at 7 PM.