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+--- Thread: that Renaissance man, Jose James has a new one (/showthread.php?tid=13682)
that Renaissance man, Jose James has a new one - jazzboCR - 10-06-2015
Can't think of anyone who writes and sings so comfortably in so many styles. Now he has come out with a new CD covering Billie Holiday (that's "covering", not "aping"). Reviewers are ecstatic and, having ordered it on the strength of hearing one song, I am too. Here's the AMG review:
http://www.allmusic.com/album/yesterday-i-had-the-blues-the-music-of-billie-holiday-mw0002805344 His 2010 release doing the Great American Songbook is a pip as well but he's done lots of good stuff in the interim *: http://www.allmusic.com/album/for-all-we-know-mw0001968694
His Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_James His Site: http://www.josejamesmusic.com/ << He's currently gearing up for a 2-week Euro tour, then NYC for a solid week.
Some tunes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yvq1BiyVWdE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He6FuTWB5Co << From the same session
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZi_Kvb7M58 << Nobody got into the guts of a song and exposed its meaning better than Ms. Holiday...'til Mr. James (a consensus opinion, not just mine).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlCtU1IVOBE << Not unusual for him--much of his recording is done in 1 take--a consummate artist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXQvYP2duuQ
BONUS: the newest CD in concert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-s3KycDy3I
* Here's Music Head's take on a 2013 disc: http://www.music-discussion.com/showthread.php/12105-Jose-James-No-Beginning-No-End << But do look up his other stuff--it's all different, it's all good.
NOTE: I say without fear of contradiction that he's the best thing to happen to American music in the last 40 years. And he's only 37.