José James

One of the hottest names in contemporary singing – José James is today recognized as an icon of the trend called “jazz above divisions”, music that effectively blurs the boundaries between the tradition of this genre, blues, soul, funk, hip-hop, fusion and pop.
He probably inherited his musical talent from his father, a jazz saxophonist from Panama. He dropped out of school for a while to associate himself with the hip-hop environment of New York. At the same time, he perfected his vocal technique on his own. When he realized that he lacked technique, he enrolled in a jazz singing class at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music.
He made his debut with the well-received The Dreamer (2008); since then, he has recorded several albums and singles under the name Impulse, Blue Note and his own label Rainbow Blonde. He has worked with Wynton Marsalis’ Jazz at Lincoln Center, McCoy Tyner, Robert Glasper, Erik Truffaz, Laura Mvula, and the Melbourne Symphony and Amsterdam Concertgebouw.
He has precise aesthetic views. He believes that each period in the history of jazz has had its masters, who are a role model and at the same time a starting point for the development of original concepts. In the case of vocalism, Billie Holiday was such an artist, who still inspires him (the album Yesterday I Had The Blues: The Music Of Billie Holiday), while today it is Erykah Badu – it was to her music that On & On: José James Sings Badu, recorded a year ago, was dedicated. The songs of this album have a jazz character. Attention is drawn not only to James’ atmospheric vocal, but also to the extensive, exquisitely arranged instrumental parts (with references to Coltrane) and extensive improvisations of the soloists. Another fully jazz album is the award-winning For We Know, which he recorded with pianist Jeff Nev (the album’s repertoire includes subtle, muted interpretations of standards). The artist has also released albums of a slightly lighter caliber, such as the funk-soul No Beginning No End or While You Were Sleeping, situated closer to contemporary rock. Although James’s music is a mosaic of various, often distant elements, the jazz idiom is always strongly present in it.
José James has a voice with a characteristic, easily recognizable timbre and an exceptionally wide range, which he further expands, introducing – which was especially audible on the first albums – sections performed in falsetto. Versatility, rich means of expression and openness to new trends put him in line with vocalists such as Prince, McFerrin and D’Angelo. In April this year, the artist’s latest album entitled “1978” was released.

Composition:
José James – vocals
Marcus Machado – guitar
Chad Selph – piano
David Ginyard – bass
Jharis Yokley – drums, percussion