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QLS Classic: Bob James

September 13, 2026 · 2 h 5 min

Show notes

One of our most-played and most-beloved episodes of 2023. For Jazz Appreciation Month, Questlove and Team Supreme sat down with a living legend of the genre. Bob James recalls his incredible journey and his intersections with Sarah Vaughan, Creed Taylor, Idris Muhammad, and others.

He also discusses becoming a beacon for hip-hop DJs and sample-based producers—and how he went from being a source to a collaborator with artists such as RZA, Talib Kweli, and, yes, still, Questlove.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All episodes of The Questlove Show

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