London-based expat, Jose James, is on “fiya” and taking
center stage alongside a wave of jazz-influenced, hip-hop, rock, neo-soul/R&B
infused artists like fellow expat Aloe Blacc, Emily King, Robert Glasper and Janell Monae. The
Minneapolis-born crooner, and son of a Panamanian jazz saxophonist, grew up
sampling the smorgasbord of delights blanketing the musical menu of his
youth…from Prince and Ice Cube to Nirvana and Radiohead.
James soon left the “twin cities” to study at the
New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in NYC, to become a finalist in the
Thelonius Monk International Jazz
Vocalist Competition, and tour with legendary jazz pianist, and Coltrane protégé,
McCoy Tyner while honing his eclectically sensual musical style.
His previous albums (“The Dreamer”; “Black Magic”; “No
Beginning, No End”) brilliantly capture his roots in jazz, soul, R&B, and
Hip-Hop. James’ latest offering, “While We Were Sleeping”, stretches the limits
of creativity, blurs the lines of categorization and dips deeply into his
apprenticeship in the East London club scene giving a head-nod to his
rock/electronica sensibilities. His spot-on remake of the conscious hip-hop classic “Park
Bench People” by Freestyle Fellowship will slay most and leave others unconscious. James' original,
“It’s All Over Your Body”
is sensual soul personified, and “Every Little Thing” mixes the funky vibe of a fly-ass 1970s pimp with the gritty intensity of a British punk rocker.
But, it’s really James' mid-concert dedication to soul
singer/songwriter Bill Withers that confirmed once again that swagger is earned
not learned, caught not bought, and in really short supply. Check this out as he covers some of Withers' classics:
Now that's real talk!
Until we rendezvous...
Peace!!
