James Robert "Bob" Belden (October 31, 1956 - May 20, 2015) was an American saxophonist, arranger, composer, bandleader, and producer. He may be best-known for his Grammy Award winning jazz orchestral recording, Black Dahlia. As producer he is mostly associated with the seminal reissue of the recordings by Miles Davis for Columbia Records.

Biography

Belden was born in Evanston, Illinois, and raised in the Charleston, South Carolina suburb of Goose Creek. He studied saxophone at the University of South Carolina and later attended the University of North Texas before joining the Woody Herman band.

In 2008, he arranged and produced Miles from India, a world fusion music recording based on the compositions of Miles Davis for which he assembled a group made up of Davis alumni and musicians from India. In addition to his work as arranger, composer, conductor and A & R director, Belden contributed numerous liner notes for noted recordings, such as "Lou's Blues" by Lou Marini and the Magic City Jazz Orchestra. Some of his liner notes have received Grammy Awards. In early 2015 Belden became the first American musician in 35 years to bring a band from the USA to perform in Iran.

Belden died of a heart attack on May 20, 2015, at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan. He was 58.

Discography

Solo albums

• 1990: Treasure Island (Sunnyside)
• 1990: La Cigale (Sunnyside)
• 1991: Straight to My Heart: The Music of Sting (Blue Note), The Bob Belden Ensemble
• 1994: When the Doves Cry: The Music of Prince (Metro Blue)
• 1996: Shades of Blue (Blue Note), compilation of his productions for the label
• 1996: Bob Belden Presents Strawberry Fields (Blue Note), re-arrangements of The Beatles songs
• 1997: Tapestry - The Blue Note Cover Series (Blue Note)
• 2001: Black Dahlia (Blue Note), inspired by the Black Dahlia crime case
• 2006: Three Days of Rain (Sunnyside)

With Animation

• 2011: Agemo (RareNoise)
• 2011: Asiento (RareNoise)
• 2012: Transparent Heart (RareNoise)

Collaborations

With New York City Horns

• 1996: Incognito - Beneath the Surface (Talkin' Loud)

With Paquito D'Rivera conducted by Bob Belden

• 1998: 100 Years of Latin Love Songs (Heads Up International)

With Tim Hagans

• 1999: Re-Animation Live! (Blue Note)

With Nicholas Payton, Sam Yahel, John Hart, Billy Drummond

• 2006: Mysterious Shorter (Chesky)

[ Source: Wikipedia ]