Jazz breaking news: José James Signs to Blue Note
Friday, September 21, 2012
Brooklyn-based singer José James (pictured left), makes his debut for Blue Note, No Beginning No End, released 22 January 2013.
This follows his two well-received solo albums on Brownswood, The Dreamer and Blackmagic, and For All We Know on Verve, and is the latest in several strong releases on Blue Note, including Robert Glasper’s Black Radio, Lionel Loueke’s Heritage and Van Morrison’s emphatically jazz-edged Born To Sing. Independently recorded and produced, the album mines a far more 1970s soul-meets-funk vein, and also includes contributions from Glasper, legendary session bassist/producer Pino Palladino, R&B singer/songwriter/guitarist Emily King, French-Moroccan singing star Hindi Zahra, and the 2011 Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition winner Kris Bowers.
Emphasising James’ love of Gil Scott-Heron’s baritone vocals via D’Angelo-esque neo funk, Afrobeat grooves and sultry acoustic balladry, the album simmers with a raw yet contemporary take on Donny Hathaway’s classic blend of sophistication and simplicity. While the record certainly sees him strike out into more mainstream R&B territory, James has earned his jazz stripes through memorable performances such as his celebration of the Impulse label alongside McCoy Tyner and Chris Potter at last year’s LJF, and his stunning Coltrane/Johnny Hartman-inspired project with brilliant Belgian pianist Jef Neve.
James makes two appearances in London this week, the first supporting Robert Glasper at the Roundhouse on Sunday 23 September, as part of the now annual iTunes Festival (on the one jazz night of the month-long festival), and a much more intimate gig at The Bedroom Bar in Hoxton on Monday 24 September.
– Mike Flynn