Not sure where to start with this one. Brooklyn based, Panamanian Irish jazz singer flies over to London, goes out clubbing and slips Gilles Peterson a copy of one of his demos. Peterson chap is dutifully bowled over and tickled pink by Panamanian man’s stunning vocal version of Trane’s classic ‘Equinox’ (not featured on this album) and immediately signs the scabby bastard to his thriving young indy label, Brownswood. Stir in some typically virile word of mouth marketing and internet shenanigans and bobs’ yer uncle; the slightly built young man with the smokey baritone is packing in the punters up and down the length of old Shoreditch.
A deeply soulful geezer indebted to the vocal jazz tradition of people like Babs Gonzales, Billie Holiday, Joe Williams, Mark Murphy, Jon Lucien and Leon Thomas, James’s his live shows usually find him scatting his way like a good ‘un.
Songwriter, voice – he’s all those things – like Amy Winehouse but without the gimmicks, the mascara, the beehive and the various court appearances (dates to be announced).
The Dreamer was recorded in New York with Jose’s regular band and guests, including legendary pianist Junior Mance who he met while studying at the prestigious New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music NY and he has also worked with Basement Jaxx, Flying Lotus and Nicola Conte.
Jose James: he does slinky weird shit with his voice. And it just about works.
ALBUM: ‘THE DREAMER – OUT 28TH JANUARY 2008