Jazz Articles about José James

About José James

Live Review

Canarias Jazz Y MasAuditorio de Tenerife Adán MartínSanta Cruz de TenerifeJuly 3-25, 2026 Having barely survived the “inner city blues" (more on that later) of intense London temperatures during three successive heatwaves it was with some relief to revisit the Canary Islands to enjoy some cool jazz at their annual jazz festival. This, the 35th edition of the Canarias Jazz Y Mas festival featuring both American and European artists proved to be as invigorating and innovative ...

In Pictures

San Jose Jazz Fest 2025

by Ronald Davis
August 19, 2025

A collection of photos from the 35th San Jose Summer Fest 2025 in San Jose from August 8, 2025 to August 10, 2025 featuring José James, Ghost-Note, Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, Carl Allen, Reginald Veal, Ralph Moore, Anthony Arya, Butcher Brown, Mary Stallings, Billy Iuso, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Tyreek McDole, ByWater Call, Lalah Hathaway, Theo Croker, Tom Scott, PJ Morton, The Headhunters, Mohini Dey, Femi Kuti, Vincent Herring, Ray Obiedo, MeloDious, Common, Kiefer, and Mavis Staples. Just to name ...

Radio & Podcasts

Jose James Makes Music For 'Party And Politics'

by Leo Sidran
April 10, 2024

Singer Jose James has been a consistent and insistent musical presence ever since he released his first album, The Dreamer in 2008 on British dj Gilles Peterson's newly formed Brownswood Recordings label. Since then he's made a dozen albums, recorded for iconic record labels like Impulse! and Blue Note, and eventually formed his own label Rainbow Blonde with his partner (in business and in life) Taali. The richness and depth in his baritone voice is reminiscent of classic ...

Album Review

Ben Wendel: All One

Read "All One" reviewed by Claudio Bonomi

by Claudio Bonomi
October 17, 2023

Classe 1976, canadese di nascita, cresciuto a Los Angeles e attualmente residente a Brooklyn (New York), Ben Wendel è considerato un astro nascente del jazz contemporaneo da diversi anni. Sassofonista e compositore, oltre ad essere stato nel 2001 tra i fondatori dei Kneebody, si è costruito negli anni una solida reputazione di solista e leader firmando ben sette album che hanno suscitato l'attenzione di pubblico e critica. Questo All One non fa eccezione. È stato concepito in tempi ...

Album Review

Ben Wendel: All One

Read "All One" reviewed by Jerome Wilson

by Jerome Wilson
June 7, 2023

Saxophonist Ben Wendel came up with a unique approach for this album of duets. He plays with a different musician on each of these six tracks, but while his guests stick to their primary instruments, Wendel fills in the space around them with multiple saxophone and bassoon parts, electronic effects, and percussion. The most conventional results of this approach are heard in the two vocal tracks. Cecile McLorin Salvant's sensitive singing on “I Loves You Porgy" and Jose ...

Catching Up With

José James: Why The Female Of The Species Is Groovier Than The Male

by Peter Jones
April 4, 2023

Jazz singer José James considers Erykah Badu to be the Joni Mitchell of his generation, a woman who has constructed a world of her own in order to tell her own alternative story. To prove the point, earlier this year he released On & On (Rainbow Blonde), a whole album of Badu songs, which he has been performing on tour. This tribute to Badu's songwriting follows previous albums dedicated to Billie Holiday (Yesterday I Had the Blues, Blue Note, 2015) ...

Album Review

José James: Lean On Me

Read "Lean On Me" reviewed by Franz A. Matzner

by Franz A. Matzner
August 28, 2018

Already known for his crisp production values, astute musicianship and eclectic presentations, Jose James delivers again with his tribute to Bill Withers, Lean on Me. The album reaffirms James' signature attention to stylistic pastiche while further refining his thematic focus on the subtleties of human relationships. Here James' narcotic blend is simultaneously steeped in tradition and floats at the horizon of modernity. The beats penetrate with unabashed eroticism. James' voice coos with soul and cuts with the dirty ...