Album Notes

In the 70's, Billy Joel wrote a song called "James" offering advice to a close friend as they went separate ways. Joel went on the road with a new band and his lead guitarist, James, decided to pursue an education.

Twenty five years later these two friends met after Joel played a concert in Denver, Colorado. Inspired by the meeting, reminiscing old times, guitarist Jim Bosse decided to arrange this lovely song about their youth for solo classical guitar. He played it for Joel six months later at Billy's home on Long Island. Joel liked the arrangement and requested that Bosse put together a collection of songs, arranged in this fashion for classical guitar. The book of solo, duo, trio and quartet guitar arrangements has been published by Hal Leonard Corp. and is available at music stores throughout the United States. (The Billy Joel Collection / Classical Guitar ISBN #9-7935-8992-4)

This CD presents the entire collection with arranger Jim Bosse performing all the solos and all the parts for the ensemble selections.

Billy Joel wrote a preface for the collection which includes the following quote:
"My long-time friend, Jim Bosse, himself a gifted musician, has arranged several of my pieces for classical guitar. Jim's arrangements are both heartfelt and artfully crafted. We hope you enjoy them."

After many years performing in rock bands, Jim Bosse's interest gradually shifted to classical music. Jim has studied privately with most of Colorado's finest guitarists, including Charles Wolzein, David Honig, Ricardo Iznaola, Masa Ito, and Alex Komodore. He has participated in over 30 master classes with many of the world's greatest guitarists. In 1986, he founded the Southern Colorado Classical Guitar Society and served as it's first president. Jim taught guitar at Adams State College in Alamosa from 1995-1997 and at the University of Southern Colorado in Pueblo from 1997-2000.

Jim performs frequently in the Rocky Mountain region and has performed more than 200 concerts in North and South America. While in South America Jim was featured on a television program "University and Society" performing his arrangements of Joel's songs with the guitar faculty of the National University in San Juan.

The Santa Fe Guitar Quartet (from Santa Fe, Argentina) has performed Jim's arrangements and said this about them:

"Jim Bosse's collection of Billy Joel songs has brought to our Quartet an added dimension. Jim Bosse's arrangements made it easy to cross over from the world of classical guitar to the songs of Billy Joel. Billy Joel's music remains faithful in these arrangements and the spirit of his music is easily passed on to the audience."