Moving to New York City to attend The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, he was mentored by and recorded with both the legendary drummer Chico Hamilton and the pianist Junior Mance. There he also met his first ensemble that would form the studio and international touring band for his 2008 debut album “The Dreamer” (Jan 2008, Brownswood).
A chance meeting in London with international tastemaker and DJ Gilles Peterson led to a record deal on Peterson’s Brownswood Recordings label. Drawing upon diverse influences such as Freestyle Fellowship and Rahsaan Roland Kirk, “The Dreamer” was an international critical success, with José performing at venues such as the North Sea Jazz Festival, Billboard Live Tokyo, The Hermitage Museum, and Central Park Summerstage. “The Dreamer” was voted #21 Critic’s Pick of JazzTimes Top 50 Jazz Albums of 2008.
His sophomore release “BLACKMAGIC” (Feb 2010, Brownswood) explored the worldwide underground, featuring production from Flying Lotus, Moodymann, Taylor McFerrin, and DJ Mitsu the Beats. “BLACKMAGIC” also featured James’s live band in new territory, covering dubstep pioneer Benga’s “Emotions” and exploring a soul/hip-hop version of the R&B classic “Save Your Love For Me.” “BLACKMAGIC” toured in over 30 countries, at venues such as the Montreal Jazz Festival, Ancienne Belgique, Melkweg, and Lincoln Center. “Love Conversation” (produced by Taylor McFerrin), “Save Your Love for Me,” and “Desire” (from The Dreamer) were featured in Fox Searchlight Pictures 2010 “Our Family Wedding” starring Forest Whitaker, America Ferrera, Carlos Mencia, and Lance Gross.
Signing to Verve/Universal in 2010, James’s third studio album “For All We Know” (May 2010, Impulse!) was released on the legendary “Impulse!” label, home to many of John Coltrane’s masterworks. Largely recorded in a single day at the famed Galaxy Studios in Belguim, “For All We Know” is a deep and timeless duo album of jazz standards featuring Jef Neve on piano.
Winner of both the Edison Award and L’Académie du Jazz Grand Prix for best Vocal Jazz Album of 2010, “For All We Know” was James’s most intimate project to date, with performances in premiere concert halls such as L’Olympia, Royal Festival Hall, and De Roma, as well venues such as the Umbria Jazz Festival, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola and Cotton Club Tokyo.
The collaboration between James and Jef Neve continued with an ambitious ongoing live project “Facing East: The Music of John Coltrane.” Conceived and directed by James “Facing East” made its worldwide debut at Ancienne Belgique, Brussels, and continued on to venues such as the North Sea Jazz Festival, Nice Jazz Festival, New Morning, and Ronnie Scott’s.
As a featured guest José has recorded albums with Junior Mance, Chico Hamilton, Nicola Conte, Bassment Jaxx, Jazzanova, Toshio Matsuura, J.A.M., DJ Mitsu the Beats, Timo Lassy, Taylor McFerrin, and Flying Lotus.
Recent projects include guest performances with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra’s “A Tribute to Billy Strayhorn” at Rose Theater, as well as touring internationally with McCoy Tyner’s “The Music of John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman.”
He was recently voted 2011 DownBeat Critics Poll “Rising Star Best Male Vocalist” and is currently working on his fourth studio album “No Beginning, No End.”
http://josejamesmusic.com/
Do you feel
José James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do you know what I know?
Do you see what I see?
Wanna go where I wanna go?
And you know I'm feeling
Like a long time I waited
For someone divine and maybe
It's you.
Some say it's only,
Some have a feeling,
It's been such a long time that I
I want to believe it.
And you know I'm feeling
Like a long time I waited
For someone divine and maybe
It's you.
And I know when you're giving
Your love, never let go.
Hold it close to you
Until you feel the joy that's
All around your soul
Forever and a day.
Do you feel what I feel?
Do you know what I know?
Do you see what I see?
Wanna go where I wanna go?
And you know I'm feeling
Like a long time I waited
For someone divine and maybe
It's you.
And I know when you're giving
Your love, never let go.
Hold it close to you
Until you feel the joy that's all around your soul
Forever and a day.
Do you feel what I feel?
Do you know what I know?
Do you see what I see?
Wanna go where I wanna go?
And you know I'm feeling
Like a long time I waited
For someone divine and maybe
It's you.
Maybe it's you,
Maybe it's you,
Maybe it's you.
I know it's you, babe
I know it's you, babe
I know it's you, babe
I know it's you, oh oh oh
The song "Do You Feel" by José James is a love song that expresses the singer's feeling of finding a divine and special connection with someone. The lyrics repeatedly ask if the person listening feels the same as the singer, and if they share the singer's desire to go where they want to go. The singer expresses that they have been waiting for a long time for someone special, and they believe it might be the person they are addressing.
The song captures the feeling of being deeply in love with someone, and the sense of connection and joy that comes with it. The chorus repeats the question "Do you feel what I feel?" as if the singer is seeking validation from the person they are addressing. The verse "And I know when you're giving / Your love, never let go / Hold it close to you / Until you feel the joy that's / All around your soul" highlights the importance of holding onto love and cherishing it.
The song's romantic nature is further emphasized by José James' smooth and soulful voice, which adds to the emotional intensity of the lyrics. Overall, the song conveys the feeling of being deeply in love and cherishing that connection with someone special.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you feel what I feel?
Asking if the other person is experiencing the same emotions
Do you know what I know?
Asking if the other person is aware of something
Do you see what I see?
Asking if the other person is perceiving the same thing
Wanna go where I wanna go?
Asking if the other person wants to come with
And you know I'm feeling
Like a long time I waited
For someone divine and maybe
It's you.
Expressing a feeling of waiting for a special someone and thinking that the other person might be that person
Some say it's only,
Some have a feeling,
It's been such a long time that I
I want to believe it.
Acknowledging differing opinions on a situation but wanting to believe that it's true
And I know when you're giving
Your love, never let go.
Hold it close to you
Until you feel the joy that's
All around your soul
Forever and a day.
Encouraging the other person to hold onto love and appreciate the happiness it brings
Maybe it's you,
Maybe it's you,
Maybe it's you.
Stating the possibility that the other person may be the one
I know it's you, babe
I know it's you, babe
I know it's you, babe
I know it's you, oh oh oh
Confidently affirming that the other person is the one
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOOTY LUV, HOLLY JAMES, SIMON HULBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind