Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » José James: Lean On Me

8

José James: Lean On Me

By

Sign in to view read count
José James: Lean On Me
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 edge of rock 'n roll. The music twists with jazz's precision and artistry as James uses the 12 selections to traverse the landscape of the American vocal tradition.

The journey begins with the slinky, bluesy "Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone," setting the tone of masterful execution, overt sensuality, and reconceptualization. The poetic "Grandma's Hands" follows, articulating an emotional eulogy to grandmothers. As is often the case with James' work, the piece is infused with a larger element of social commentary.

James then executes a tonal pivot to the uplifting, pop-ish "Lovely Day" before approaching the titular "Lean on Me." James' powerful vocals matched by the shrewd arrangement deftly convert the original into a humanistic hymn that resonates particularly strongly during these fraught times.

From there, the album continues to deliver surprises, from the captivating rendition of "Just the Two of Us" to the sizzling confessional "Better off Dead," which concludes Lean on Me with its strikingly poetic portrait of male regret and loss.

Lean On Meis as pleasurable a listen as it is a potent honoring of a master singer and song writer.

Track Listing

Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone; Grandma's Hands; Lovely Day; Kissing My Love; Use Me; Who is He; Hello Like Before; Just the Two of Us; Hope She'll Be Happier; The Same Love that Made me Laugh; Better off Dead.

Personnel

José James
vocals

Jose James: vocals; Pino Palladino: bass; Kris Bowers: keys; Brad Allen Williams: guitar; Nate Smith: drums; Marcus Strickland: saxophonist; Takuya Kuroda: trumpet; Lalah Hathaway: guest vocalist.

Album information

Title: Lean On Me | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: Blue Note Records

Comments

Tags

Concerts

May 27 Mon
Jun 5 Wed

For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Candid
Sunny Five
Inside Colours Live
Julie Sassoon

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.