Bob James: tiny desk

Quincy Jones discovered Bob James in the 1960s, signing him to a record deal and arranging music for jazz greats like Sarah Vaughan and Grover Washington Jr. James's 1974 album "One" featured "Feel Like Making Love" and "Nautilus," the latter becoming heavily sampled in hip-hop. While James has collaborated with many contemporaries, hip-hop has bridged his music to younger generations.

Before recording a new version of "Nautilus" with DJ Jazzy Jeff and Talib Kweli — rehearsed just once — James played other highlights from his catalog, including "Westchester Lady," "Angela (Theme from Taxi)," and "The Secret Drawer" from his Grammy-nominated album.