Jazz Articles about José James

Jose James: No Begining No End

by Mark F. Turner
February 10, 2013

With the panache of Marvin Gaye and the smoothness of neo-soul artist D'Angelo, singer José James has been dubbed the “Smokey Robinson for the new generation." That's some heavy but deserving press as James' previous releases- -2010's Blackmagic and 2008's The Dreamer (both on Brownswood Records)--bear witness. With his Blue Note debut, No Beginning No End's decidedly marketed project eschews the limitations of James being labeled just a “jazz singer" with a recording that swirls together jazz, hip hop, R&B, ...

Jose James: No Begining No End

by Franz A. Matzner
January 23, 2013

Smoother than cognac and just as refined, No Beginning No End drips with an unabashed sensuality both subtly delivered and painfully personal. With his Blue Note debut, Jose James employs the terrifying capacity of his voice to penetrate the heart of deeper, more hidden spaces and lay bare the emotional contours of urban existence.To accomplish this feat, James wraps the distinct timber of his voice in a contemporary cloak that weaves together jazz, R&B, electronica, pop, funk, and ...

Jose James: The Dreamer

by Chris May
January 30, 2008

Listen out for this guy in 2008. Vocalist Jose James isn't going to be the next Jamie Cullum--his style is too understated and his attitude faces purposefully away from the mainstream--but The Dreamer, Brooklyn-based James' debut album, has star quality.

James made a splash in late 2007 with a reworking of John Coltrane's “Equinox," and he's four-square in the post-bop vocal tradition established by older singers like Mark Murphy, Jon Lucien and Leon Thomas. But there ...