Quartette Humaine is an unlikely sequel. In 1986 Bob James and David Sanborn, both jazz musicians and "first call" session men for a long list of artists, collaborated on an album called Double Vision.
It was a hit, and picked up a Grammy nomination for guest artist Al Jarreau, for best male R&B vocal performance on the track Since I Fell for You.
It says much about the style of the release that the nomination was in that category. "Smooth jazz" - odious term that it is - had not then emerged as a distinct genre, but Double Vision fits right into it.
You might then assume that the resumption of the partnership, after a 26-year hiatus, would take a fairly similar form. As it turns out, not so. Both musicians are perhaps now at a stage in their careers at which their credibility as artists is more important to them than record sales.
In recent years, in parallel with his middle-of-the-road gig as a Fourplay member, James has made a number of classical, straight-ahead jazz and world music recordings - including his 2006 Angels of Shanghai album with musicians from the Shanghai Conservatory. Sanborn, with albums such as 2008's Here and Gone, has moved away from the "fusion" and "smooth jazz" categories back to his blues roots.
For their reunion, James and Sanborn have opted for a straight-ahead jazz quartet album, intended as a tribute to pianist Dave Brubeck and saxophonist Paul Desmond. It was recorded shortly after Brubeck's death, although the tribute idea predated his passing.