José James & Jef Neve
"This record is all about capturing the moment," José James says of For All… Read Full Bio ↴"This record is all about capturing the moment," José James says of For All We Know, his upcoming Impulse! release. The album, a collaboration between James and noted Belgian pianist Jef Neve, finds the charismatic young vocalist applying his warm, rich baritone to a sterling assortment of timeless jazz and pop standards. The result is an eloquently spare, effortlessly expressive set, with James' vivid performances and the intimate duo format lending new emotional depth to such beloved classics as "Tenderly," "Body and Soul," "Everyday I Have the Blues," Billy Strayhorn's "Lush Life" and George and Ira Gershwin's "Embraceable You."
For All We Know is José James' first album for Impulse! Records, as well as his first U.S. release. But the Minneapolis-born, London-based singer is already a sensation in Britain, Europe and Japan. Since his arrival on the international scene in 2008, audiences and critics alike have embraced the artist's talent and versatility, with his first two albums (released on influential DJ/producer Gilles Peterson's Brownswood Recordings label) winning James a reputation as both a rising star and a vital new creative force.
All but one of For All We Know's ten songs were recorded in a single informal six-hour session at Galaxy Studios in Mol, Belgium. The project came together spontaneously, after James and Neve performed together on a Belgian television show and Neve filled in for James' regular pianist at a concert in Brussels.
"It felt like we'd been playing together forever," José recalls. "I had the next day off, so I said 'Let's go in the studio and try to capture some of this vibe.' Jef booked this really nice studio, we let the tape roll, and that's the album. There was no producer, no overdubs, and most of the songs were first takes.
"It wasn't anything that we thought was gonna turn into a big release," he continues. "It was just something that we thought was really cool. We just played the songs we love the way we felt them, with no constraints. Playing as a duo is very pure and honest; it's just you, the piano and silence."
As impressive as For All We Know is, it presents just one aspect of José James' musical portfolio, whose expansiveness and diversity belies the artist's tender age. The son of a jazz-saxophonist/multi-instrumentalist father from Panama, José first embraced jazz in his early teens. By the age of 17, he had emerged as both a budding performer and a serious student of jazz history and technique, performing around Minneapolis in a variety of lineups with an assortment of seasoned local jazz players.
"I realized early on that I could connect with people through music," José recalls. "I wasn't thinking much about making it into a career; I was just caught up in the excitement of making music. I also realized that the vocal developments in jazz progressed with the instrumental developments, and that the instrumentalists' rhythmic and harmonic sophistication was absorbed and transmuted by the singers of the day. That really opened my eyes, and helped to give me a direction and a focus."
José's musical development continued after a move to New York, where he attended the New School's prestigious jazz program, studying with instrumental legends Junior Mance and Chico Hamilton, both of whom subsequently invited him to perform on their recordings.
In 2006, while participating in a vocal competition in London, José met Gilles Peterson, who was sufficiently impressed with his talents to sign him to Brownswood Recordings. He released a pair of acclaimed, mostly self-written albums for the label, The Dreamer and Blackmagic. In addition to showcasing the artist's vocal and songwriting gifts, those albums combined his deep-rooted jazz sensibility with elements of classic soul, contemporary R&B, hip-hop and drum 'n' bass.
James' growing notoriety led to him collaborating on record with a wide assortment of jazz, club and hip-hop acts, including Basement Jaxx, Nicola Conte, Toshio Matsuura, Jazzanova, Flying Lotus, Christian McBride, Elan Mehler, the Heritage Orchestra, Robert Mitchell, Jazzy Sport and Simbad. He also established a reputation as a magnetic live performer, appearing at such hallowed venues as London's Royal Festival Hall, the North Sea Jazz Festival, the Vitoria Jazz Festival, Billboard Live in Tokyo, Centro Cultural in Sao Paolo, the Hermitage of St. Petersburg and Central Park Summerstage in New York.
Like José, pianist Jef Neve has quickly established himself as one of jazz's most exciting young talents. Already an established figure in his homeland of Belgium and a rising star in the rest of the world, he's released five best-selling albums that have won international acclaim. The Jef Neve Trio has performed throughout Europe, including appearances at many of the world's most prestigious jazz festivals. In 2009, Neve debuted his first piano concerto, with the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra, and won additional notoriety for his musical score for director Felix Van Groeningen's film The Misfortunates.
Having already won the hearts of international audiences, José James is inspired by the opportunity to make a splash in his home country. "It's so exciting, and it's a huge honor to be on Impulse; it's Trane's house. I'm very proud of this record, and I love being able to give back to the music that nurtured me."
With a background that encompasses all manner of diverse musical pursuits, José James sees the potential for many different kinds of records in his future.
"I've never wanted to stay in one place," he states. "Jazz has always been about looking forward and experimenting and trying new things. If For All We Know has an influence on my direction in the future, it's to make me more open to taking chances and seeing where the moment takes you. That's what this record was about for me, and that's what I want to keep doing."
For All We Know is José James' first album for Impulse! Records, as well as his first U.S. release. But the Minneapolis-born, London-based singer is already a sensation in Britain, Europe and Japan. Since his arrival on the international scene in 2008, audiences and critics alike have embraced the artist's talent and versatility, with his first two albums (released on influential DJ/producer Gilles Peterson's Brownswood Recordings label) winning James a reputation as both a rising star and a vital new creative force.
All but one of For All We Know's ten songs were recorded in a single informal six-hour session at Galaxy Studios in Mol, Belgium. The project came together spontaneously, after James and Neve performed together on a Belgian television show and Neve filled in for James' regular pianist at a concert in Brussels.
"It felt like we'd been playing together forever," José recalls. "I had the next day off, so I said 'Let's go in the studio and try to capture some of this vibe.' Jef booked this really nice studio, we let the tape roll, and that's the album. There was no producer, no overdubs, and most of the songs were first takes.
"It wasn't anything that we thought was gonna turn into a big release," he continues. "It was just something that we thought was really cool. We just played the songs we love the way we felt them, with no constraints. Playing as a duo is very pure and honest; it's just you, the piano and silence."
As impressive as For All We Know is, it presents just one aspect of José James' musical portfolio, whose expansiveness and diversity belies the artist's tender age. The son of a jazz-saxophonist/multi-instrumentalist father from Panama, José first embraced jazz in his early teens. By the age of 17, he had emerged as both a budding performer and a serious student of jazz history and technique, performing around Minneapolis in a variety of lineups with an assortment of seasoned local jazz players.
"I realized early on that I could connect with people through music," José recalls. "I wasn't thinking much about making it into a career; I was just caught up in the excitement of making music. I also realized that the vocal developments in jazz progressed with the instrumental developments, and that the instrumentalists' rhythmic and harmonic sophistication was absorbed and transmuted by the singers of the day. That really opened my eyes, and helped to give me a direction and a focus."
José's musical development continued after a move to New York, where he attended the New School's prestigious jazz program, studying with instrumental legends Junior Mance and Chico Hamilton, both of whom subsequently invited him to perform on their recordings.
In 2006, while participating in a vocal competition in London, José met Gilles Peterson, who was sufficiently impressed with his talents to sign him to Brownswood Recordings. He released a pair of acclaimed, mostly self-written albums for the label, The Dreamer and Blackmagic. In addition to showcasing the artist's vocal and songwriting gifts, those albums combined his deep-rooted jazz sensibility with elements of classic soul, contemporary R&B, hip-hop and drum 'n' bass.
James' growing notoriety led to him collaborating on record with a wide assortment of jazz, club and hip-hop acts, including Basement Jaxx, Nicola Conte, Toshio Matsuura, Jazzanova, Flying Lotus, Christian McBride, Elan Mehler, the Heritage Orchestra, Robert Mitchell, Jazzy Sport and Simbad. He also established a reputation as a magnetic live performer, appearing at such hallowed venues as London's Royal Festival Hall, the North Sea Jazz Festival, the Vitoria Jazz Festival, Billboard Live in Tokyo, Centro Cultural in Sao Paolo, the Hermitage of St. Petersburg and Central Park Summerstage in New York.
Like José, pianist Jef Neve has quickly established himself as one of jazz's most exciting young talents. Already an established figure in his homeland of Belgium and a rising star in the rest of the world, he's released five best-selling albums that have won international acclaim. The Jef Neve Trio has performed throughout Europe, including appearances at many of the world's most prestigious jazz festivals. In 2009, Neve debuted his first piano concerto, with the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra, and won additional notoriety for his musical score for director Felix Van Groeningen's film The Misfortunates.
Having already won the hearts of international audiences, José James is inspired by the opportunity to make a splash in his home country. "It's so exciting, and it's a huge honor to be on Impulse; it's Trane's house. I'm very proud of this record, and I love being able to give back to the music that nurtured me."
With a background that encompasses all manner of diverse musical pursuits, José James sees the potential for many different kinds of records in his future.
"I've never wanted to stay in one place," he states. "Jazz has always been about looking forward and experimenting and trying new things. If For All We Know has an influence on my direction in the future, it's to make me more open to taking chances and seeing where the moment takes you. That's what this record was about for me, and that's what I want to keep doing."
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José James & Jef Neve Lyrics
Autumn in New York Christmas time is coming through the air Trees and lights an…
Body & Soul My heart is sad and lonely For you I cry for…
Body and Soul My heart is sad and lonely For you I cry for…
Embraceable You Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you! Embrace me, you irrep…
Tenderly The evening breeze Caressed the trees Tenderly The trembling…
We have lyrics for these tracks by José James:
4 Noble Truths Standing at the feet of the father Wondering in my heart…
Bird of Space Shadows on my face, Shadows on the wall, Lord, I need a…
Blackeyedsusan Baby come and slide right next to me I wanna feel…
Blackmagic All the girls on the block knocking at my door! Wanna…
Body and Soul My heart is sad and lonely For you I cry for…
Christmas in New York Christmas time is coming through the air Trees and lights an…
Code Light the words that are spoken Light the hurts that are…
Come to My Door So long we've been distant now Since you set out on…
Come To My Door - So long we've been distant now Since you set out on…
Desire She appeared in the distance, like a prayer I had…
Do You Feel Do you feel what I feel? Do you know what I…
Embraceable You Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you! Embrace me, you irrepl…
Every Little Thing I think I'm alright I think it's not a good day…
EveryLittleThing I think I'm alright I think it's not a good day…
Fine And Mellow My girl don't love me Treats me oh so mean My baby…
God Bless The Child Them that's got shall have Them that's not shall lose So the…
Good Morning Heartache Good morning heartache You old gloomy sight Good morning hea…
Heaven on the Ground It isn't fair The way you smile. It isn't right Each time yo…
I Thought About You I took a trip on a train And I thought about…
It's All Over Your Body Break bread on the water, Rub me down. And touch me where…
Lay You Down Lay you down and lift you up and Lay you down…
Love Many dream and many promise Many look for what we knew Many…
Love Conversation I wanna talk to you (Go, slow) (Go, fast) I wanna talk to…
Lover Man I don't know why But I'm feeling so sad I long to…
Make It Right Every night and every day I sit and wonder how it…
No Beginning No End Why pretend that this isn't happening When this is the way…
Nola There's a girl that I once knew Who often had a…
Park Bench People I see an old man Sittin' on a park bench Lookin' in…
Save Your Love for Me Wish I knew why I'm so in love with you. No…
Spirits Up Above There's a girl that I once knew Who often had a…
Strange Fruit Southern trees bear strange fruit Blood on the leaves and bl…
Sword Gun Lay down your sword and gun, Lay down your soldier's arms. …
Sword + Gun Lay down your sword and gun, Lay down your soldier's arms. G…
Take Me Home There are many, many crazy things That will keep me lovin'…
Tenderly The evening breeze Caressed the trees Tenderly The trembling…
The Dreamer I saw the dreamer raise his hands Into a world of…
They Can't Take That Away from Me There are many, many crazy things That will keep me lovin'…
Tomorrow When the winter turns to spring And the cold has run…
Trouble Go on talk to me, baby So long, say yeah Trouble and…
Truth You are, you are, you are the truth You are, you…
U R The 1 I took a trip on a train And I thought about…
Vanguard Maybe, all my life, I've been waiting, wonder why Is it…
What a Little Moonlight Can Do Ooh What a little moonlight can do Ooh, ooh, ooh What a litt…
Winterwind Those winter wind blows around this town in my heart…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Jef Neve:
Embraceable You Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you! Embrace me, you irrepl…