Jazz Articles about Billy James

Billy James

by David A. Orthmann
March 30, 2005

Despite the fact that he never clamors for attention and seldom takes a solo, Billy James has a distinctive style of drumming that flourishes in the confines of the soul jazz idiom. His discography largely consists of recordings in the company of the legendary organist Don Patterson, along with other expansive, go-for-broke players like Sonny Stitt and Booker Ervin. Taken in its entirety, James' recorded output reveals a restless, unpredictable musician who is equal to his high profile associates. Unlike ...

Sonny Stitt: Just the Way It Was: Live at the Left Bank

by AAJ Staff
January 22, 2003

To inaugurate his latest musical milestone--the starting of Label M--one of jazz’s most underrated production legends, Joel Dorn, has taken a set by his musical counterpart, the electrifying saxophonist Sonny Stitt, from the vaults of the Left Bank Jazz Society and put it back on vinyl (er- plastic). In doing so, he helps sustain the Society’s mission of keeping a jazzy light in the window for new and future generations.

From a sobbing rendition of "Cry Me ...

Sonny Stitt: Just the Way It Was: "Live" at the Left Bank

by Matthew S. Robinson
August 1, 2001

To inaugurate his latest musical milestone, the starting of Label M, one of Jazz’s most underrated production legends, Joel Dorn, has taken a set of his musical counterpart, the electrifying saxophonist Sonny Stitt, from the vaults of the Left Bank Jazz Society and puts it back on vinyl (er... plastic) to sustain the Society’s mission of keeping a jazzy light in the window for new and future generations. From a sobbing rendition of “Cry Me a River" which is recognizable ...

Sonny Stitt: Just The Way It Was - "Live" At The Left Bank

by AAJ Staff
October 1, 2000

Sonny Stitt is the other diamond in the deuce that Label M is releasing to introduce its brave new label. Another tenor sax powerhouse, Stan Getz, also is on the front line of releases. Each with his own distinctive sound, Stitt and Getz both knew how to command the attention of an audience in his own way. Getz did it through pleas and songs and unexpected accents and a comforting tone. Stitt did it through a groove and straightforward aggressive ...