James Ivory

Ivory Coast (1988) is an album by the legendary Bob James, an influential American jazz keyboardist, composer, and arranger. Known for his innovative contributions to jazz fusion and smooth jazz, Bob James has had a long career that blends traditional jazz with contemporary styles, such as funk, R&B, and pop. Ivory Coast is one of his notable works from the late 1980s, showcasing his ability to merge smooth jazz with elements of world music, particularly drawing inspiration from African rhythms and sounds.

Set against the stifling conformity of pre–World War I English society, E.M. Forster’s Maurice is a story of coming to terms with one’s sexuality and identity in the face of disapproval and misunderstanding. Maurice Hall (James Wilby) and Clive Durham (Hugh Grant) find themselves falling in love at Cambridge. In a time when homosexuality was punishable by imprisonment, the two must keep their feelings for one another a complete secret. Sparkling direction by James Ivory, distinguished performances from the ensemble cast, and a charged score by Richard Robbins all combine to create a film of immense power. Maurice is a romantic, moving story of love and self-discovery for all audiences.