- José James
- Music / Dates
- Pictures / Bio
"They didn't dig it!" shrugs a smiling José James as he reflected on his performances at the Vortex and the Cadogan Hall as part of the London Jazz Competition 2006. Disappointed but far from disillusioned the Brooklyn based jazz singer decided to put his time left in London to good use. Armed with an EP of demos, including a blazing vocal cut of John Coltrane's 'Equinox' and an impressive self penned song aptly entitled 'The Dreamer', he did the rounds of the City's more radical club sessions. He met up with Blacktronica's Charlie Dark and at Cargo managed to slip a copy of the EP to Gilles Peterson.
A year later and José has arrived back in East London but this time he's onstage at Cargo and that smokey baritone has got a packed house hushed in appreciation. He might be slight in build but this cat has a hugely impressive voice. In fact, it's been a busy summer. He's signed a deal with GP's Brownswood imprint and has racked up solo live appearances at the Worldwide Festival in Montpellier plus a guest spot with the Heritage Orchestra. Fresh from a PA at the divine Mercati Generali in Sicily, he dropped in on Bari's jazz don, Nicola Conte, who whisked him off to voice some tailor made tracks. Once back in London it was more late nights in the studio with the enigmatic DJ/producer/saxophonist, Simbad.Basically, there's an album for Brownswood in the bag alongside new remixes from IG Culture and Yam Who, a collaboration with label mate Ben Westbeech and, rumour has it, Basement Jaxx. At twenty eight, José, has pursued the jazz grail but it's been a bumpy ride.
Hailing from Prince's hometown of Minneapolis, Jose grew up around music. His mother is of Irish descent and is a music loving child of the hippy era. His father is Panamanian and a working musician. At High School, while he rocked Tribe Called Quest's 'Midnight Marauders' he discovered Duke Ellington – "those dark, early, Cotton Club recordings". Louis Armstrong and Charlie Parker followed… he snapped up that lavish Mosaic box set of Nat King Cole before turning to Mingus and Monk. He was totally hooked… José was that kid who walked around singing horn parts. And then, to top it all he discovered John Coltrane. "When I heard 'Equinox' I was transported… that's when I seriously started writing lyrics… man, I must have heard that tune two thousand times!" At that time that time he was initiated into the post Black Arts movement of the late Sixties by poet, educator and activist of African and Native American heritage, Louis Alemayehu. Through his involvement in Ancestor Energy - Alemayehu's award winning spoken word and jazz ensemble -- the young singer gained a deeper insight into what the Art Ensemble of Chicago defined as Great Black Music. As the man says, "It was heavy! They changed my whole conception of music."
In 2000, as with generations of jazz musicians before him, José opted to try and make it in New York City. It was a totally disheartening experience. Numbed by an inability to make those vital connections and confronted with the sheer lack of interest his passion for singing evaporated. For three whole years he abstained and channelled his creative juices into writing. Even his girl friend had no idea of his vocal skills. In fact, it was only when they moved back to Minneapolis and José started collaborating and gigging with his mentor and former high school teacher, Dennis Malmberg, that she heard him sing. She flipped!
Once back in NYC she urged José to get back on track. In 2004, he participated in the Thelonious Monk International Vocal Competition and then successfully applied for a partial scholarship to the prestigious New School For Jazz & Contemporary Music. The New School has thrown up prestigious students like Roy Hargrove, Robert Glasper and Brad Meldau and it boasts a stellar roster of working musicians as tutors including pianist Junior Mance (who plays on Jose's debut album), Charles Tolliver, Janet Lawson, Andrew Cyrille and Reggie Workman. However, according to José, despite having access to some of the giants of the music he loves, it was a mixed learning experience and one which left him itching to continue developing his song writing and vocal skills in the real world. While we currently seem to be inundated with female jazz vocalists, José James is rare example of a hip young guy who is committed to pursuing a vocal jazz tradition which spans Babs Gonzales, Billie Holiday, Joe Williams, Nat Cole, Mark Murphy, Leon Thomas and Andy Bey. Rather than rehash the classics and plunder the American songbook José prefers to write his own songs on love and life but, as his version of Freestyle Fellowship's 'Park Bench People' shows, he is also ready and willing to take inspiration from his hip hop contemporaries.
While he maintains a small band of regular collaborators in NYC, who appear to enjoy a virtually telepathic musical relationship with the singer, José is keen to develop a working relationship with a whole bunch of new found friends. Even before he's actually released any music he's acquired a growing international following who readily identify with a soulful warmth reminiscent of Terry Callier and see him as an heir the sensual spiritual jazz stylings of the late Jon Lucien. end. José James debut album “The Dreamer” will be released on Brownswood Recordings in January 2008.
Paul Bradshaw Summer 2007
