Bob James, Earl Klugh - Kari (audio) (TRUSTED)

While "Kari" found its primary home on jazz, R&B, and adult contemporary radio stations, the album it headlined was a massive commercial success. spent 12 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Jazz chart and was eventually certified Gold in the United States.

Experience the light and breezy sounds of this 1979 jazz classic: Bob James, Earl Klugh - Kari (audio) BobJamesVEVO YouTube• Sep 27, 2019 The Story Behind the Music Bob James, Earl Klugh - Kari (audio)

When you think of the definitive sound of late-70s smooth jazz, few tracks capture that breezy, sophisticated atmosphere quite like . This instrumental gem is a masterclass in collaboration, bringing together the rhythmic, melodic piano work of Bob James and the fluid, acoustic finger-picking of Earl Klugh . While "Kari" found its primary home on jazz,

Originally released in October 1979, "Kari" served as the opening track for the duo’s landmark collaborative album, . The song was written by Earl Klugh, a Detroit-born guitar prodigy whose style seamlessly blends jazz, pop, and R&B. This instrumental gem is a masterclass in collaboration,

The recording session in New York City brought together a "who's who" of legendary studio musicians: : Acoustic piano and Fender Rhodes. Earl Klugh : Acoustic guitar. Ralph MacDonald : Percussion. Harvey Mason : Drums. Neil Jason : Bass guitar. Chart Success and Accolades

The Smooth Jazz Synergy: Revisitng "Kari" by Bob James and Earl Klugh

The peak of its recognition came at the 1981 Grammy Awards, where the duo took home the award for . The track's lasting legacy is evident in how it helped define the transition of jazz into the more polished "Smooth Jazz" era of the 1980s. Where to Listen and Buy