23-01-2013, 14:13
online listen
nice smooth soft soul/jazz feel
some tracks drag on too long with no variation
nodding off near the end
cant knock it, just not my thing
1.3 from me and not yet rated by the pros at allmusic
from the album - Trouble
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Gz2kqOupCI
released Jan 22nd, 2013
![[Image: MI0003442192.jpg?partner=allrovi.com]](http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0003/442/MI0003442192.jpg?partner=allrovi.com)
Bio - from allmusic
Often referred to as a jazz singer for the hip-hop generation, New York City-based vocalist
José James combines jazz, soul, drum'n'bass, and spoken word into his own unique brand of vocal
jazz. While he states his main influences as John Coltrane, Marvin Gaye, and Billie Holiday,
his sound on early 12" singles and in live performances brought to mind such icons of '70s
jazz-soul as Terry Callier, and his music felt more like an update of the fluid crossover
approach of Gil Scott-Heron, while also being distinctly his own. James released his full-
length debut album, Dreamer, in 2008 on Gilles Peterson's Brownswood imprint. The album ended
up earning him accolades worldwide for its blend of jazz, electronic, soul, and pop styles. It
placed at number 21 in Jazz Times' Top 50 for the year. Consequently, James played on
prestigious stages all over the world, including those at the North Sea Jazz Festival, the
Victoria Jazz Festival, Billboard Live Tokyo, Centro Cultural São Paolo, the Hermitage in St.
Petersburg, Central Park Summerstage in New York, and London's Royal Festival Hall. James made
numerous guest performances on recordings by the Junior Mance Trio, Jazzanova, Nicola Conte,
Basement Jaxx, and Chico Hamilton, to name a few. He followed Dreamer with Blackmagic in
February of 2010. In May of that year, he also made his Impulse! debut with For All We Know, a
collection of standards performed in duet with Belgian pianist Jef Neve.
Album Review - from washington post
After a lackluster 2010 U.S. recording debut, Jose James has returned with the self-financed
and co-produced âNo Beginning No End.â The album, eventually released by Blue Note, spotlights
his songwriting skills and a unique musical persona that comfortably navigates between neo-
soul, R&B, hip-hop and jazz.
Jamesâ romantic baritone on the sensual, slow-tempo title track might evoke comparisons with
neo-soul singer DâAngelo, but on original tunes like âTrouble,â with its funky bass and organ
lines and horn blasts, he shows the influence of R&B legends like Marvin Gaye. On âVanguard,â
co-written and performed with genre-bending jazz keyboardist Robert Glasper, James shows a
modern jazz sensibility as he deftly handles the rhythmic shifts and complex harmonies.
James also teams with R&B singer Emily King on two of her sultry ballads, âHeaven on the
Groundâ and âCome to My Door,â and stretches even further on his collaboration with French-
Moroccan singer Hindi Zahra on the North African-spiced âSword + Gunâ as he confidently takes
his listeners to unexpected places.
Track Listing
1. Its All Over (Your Body)
2. Sword Gun (ft. Hindi Zahra)
3. Trouble
4. Vanguard
5. Come to My Door
6. Heaven on the Ground (ft. Emily King)
7. Do You Feel
8. Make It Right
9. Bird Of Space
10. No Beginning No End
11. Tomorrow
nice smooth soft soul/jazz feel
some tracks drag on too long with no variation
nodding off near the end
cant knock it, just not my thing
1.3 from me and not yet rated by the pros at allmusic
from the album - Trouble
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Gz2kqOupCI
released Jan 22nd, 2013
Bio - from allmusic
Often referred to as a jazz singer for the hip-hop generation, New York City-based vocalist
José James combines jazz, soul, drum'n'bass, and spoken word into his own unique brand of vocal
jazz. While he states his main influences as John Coltrane, Marvin Gaye, and Billie Holiday,
his sound on early 12" singles and in live performances brought to mind such icons of '70s
jazz-soul as Terry Callier, and his music felt more like an update of the fluid crossover
approach of Gil Scott-Heron, while also being distinctly his own. James released his full-
length debut album, Dreamer, in 2008 on Gilles Peterson's Brownswood imprint. The album ended
up earning him accolades worldwide for its blend of jazz, electronic, soul, and pop styles. It
placed at number 21 in Jazz Times' Top 50 for the year. Consequently, James played on
prestigious stages all over the world, including those at the North Sea Jazz Festival, the
Victoria Jazz Festival, Billboard Live Tokyo, Centro Cultural São Paolo, the Hermitage in St.
Petersburg, Central Park Summerstage in New York, and London's Royal Festival Hall. James made
numerous guest performances on recordings by the Junior Mance Trio, Jazzanova, Nicola Conte,
Basement Jaxx, and Chico Hamilton, to name a few. He followed Dreamer with Blackmagic in
February of 2010. In May of that year, he also made his Impulse! debut with For All We Know, a
collection of standards performed in duet with Belgian pianist Jef Neve.
Album Review - from washington post
After a lackluster 2010 U.S. recording debut, Jose James has returned with the self-financed
and co-produced âNo Beginning No End.â The album, eventually released by Blue Note, spotlights
his songwriting skills and a unique musical persona that comfortably navigates between neo-
soul, R&B, hip-hop and jazz.
Jamesâ romantic baritone on the sensual, slow-tempo title track might evoke comparisons with
neo-soul singer DâAngelo, but on original tunes like âTrouble,â with its funky bass and organ
lines and horn blasts, he shows the influence of R&B legends like Marvin Gaye. On âVanguard,â
co-written and performed with genre-bending jazz keyboardist Robert Glasper, James shows a
modern jazz sensibility as he deftly handles the rhythmic shifts and complex harmonies.
James also teams with R&B singer Emily King on two of her sultry ballads, âHeaven on the
Groundâ and âCome to My Door,â and stretches even further on his collaboration with French-
Moroccan singer Hindi Zahra on the North African-spiced âSword + Gunâ as he confidently takes
his listeners to unexpected places.
Track Listing
1. Its All Over (Your Body)
2. Sword Gun (ft. Hindi Zahra)
3. Trouble
4. Vanguard
5. Come to My Door
6. Heaven on the Ground (ft. Emily King)
7. Do You Feel
8. Make It Right
9. Bird Of Space
10. No Beginning No End
11. Tomorrow
