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24 Oct

Jose James

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“A rising jazz star… Spectacular… There’s nothing tentative or delicate about his voice, which carries marks of jazz vocalists and also soul singers from Marvin Gaye to Barry White.” John Caramanica, New York Times

James is the son of a Panamanian saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. He attended The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music at New York University . In 2008, he debuted with his first album, The Dreamer, on the Brownswood label. BLACKMAGIC followed in 2010. 2010’s For All We Know, a deep and timeless duo album of jazz standards featuring Jef Neve on piano, came out on the Impulse label. For All We Know became the winner of both the Edison Award and L’Académie du Jazz Grand Prix for best Vocal Jazz Album of 2010. The collaboration between James and Jef Neve continued with an ambitious ongoing live project “Facing East: The Music of John Coltrane.” Conceived and directed by James “Facing East”made its worldwide debut at Ancienne Belgique, Brussels, and continued on to venues such as the North Sea Jazz Festival, Nice Jazz Festival, New Morning, and Ronnie Scott’s.

James has released his new single, “Trouble”, from the forthcoming 2012 album No Beginning, No End. From the world of Jazz where he is surrounded by the genre’s most respected players and into the R&B and soul, José provides listeners with an intimate and inspiring sound.


As a featured guest José has recorded albums with Junior Mance, Chico Hamilton, Nicola Conte, Bassment Jaxx, Jazzanova, Toshio Matsuura, J.A.M., DJ Mitsu the Beats, Timo Lassy, Taylor McFerrin, and Flying Lotus.

Recent projects include guest performances with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra’s “A Tribute to Billy Strayhorn” at Rose Theater, as well as touring internationally with McCoy Tyner’s “The Music of John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman.”

“A well-seasoned newcomer shakes up Lincoln Center.” Steve Smith, Time Out New York

“James has the coiled power of a great singer and the tenderness at the heart of Coltrane’s music. Quite superb.” Stephen Graham, Jazzwise Magazine

 

Last modified on Friday, 24 February 2012 13:11
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