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/
Lover Man
José James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I'm feeling so sad
I long to try
Something I've never had
Never had no kissing
Oh what I've been missing
Lover man oh where can you be
The night is cold
And I'm so all alone
I'd give my soul
Just to call you my own
I've got a moon above me
But no one's here to love me
Lover man oh where can you be
I've heard it said
That the thrill of romance can be like
A heavenly dream
I go to bed
With a prayer
That you'll make love to me
Strange as it seems
Someday we'll meet
And you'll dry all my tears
And whisper sweet
Little things in my ears
Hugging and a-kissing
Oh what we've been missing
Lover man oh where can you be
The song "Lover Man" by José James is a cover of a jazz standard originally recorded by Billie Holiday in 1944. The lyrics depict the feeling of loneliness and the longing for a lover. The rhyme scheme of the song is A-A-B-A, which gives it a neat structure. In the first verse, James sings about feeling sad without any reason and wanting to try something new, that he never had before. James then sings about being lonely and how he longs for the kisses of his lover. He emphasizes his desperate search for love as he repeats the phrase "Lover man oh where can you be" several times throughout the song.
As the song progresses, James talks about the cold and lonely night, and how he wishes to call his lover his own. He feels unloved despite the presence of the moon up above him. In the third verse, James talks about the thrill of romance and how it could be heavenly. He prays to meet his lover someday so that they can hug, kiss, and make love, just like lovers do. The song ends with the repetition of the phrase "Lover man oh where can you be," leaving the listener with a melancholic yet hopeful feeling.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't know why
I am feeling extremely dejected and lonely, and cannot fathom why
But I'm feeling so sad
An overwhelming sense of sorrow has taken over me and I can't shake it off
I long to try
I yearn to attempt something that I have never done before
Something I've never had
I desire to experience something new, which I have not been able to in the past
Never had no kissing
I have never had a passionate and intimate kiss before
Oh what I've been missing
I realize what I've been depriving myself of by not engaging in acts of love
Lover man oh where can you be
I am questioning and yearning for a lover with whom I can share my feelings and confide in
The night is cold
The darkness of the night seems to have seeped into my soul, resulting in a cold and empty feeling
And I'm so all alone
With no one to talk to or confide in, I am feeling extremely isolated and lonely
I'd give my soul
I am willing to give everything that I own just for the possibility of finding true love
Just to call you my own
To possess someone who loves me, understands me and accepts me as I am is the ultimate desire of my heart
I've got a moon above me
The only companion I seem to have is the moon, which is shining bright above me
But no one's here to love me
Even though the moon is keeping me company, I cannot help but feel unloved and unwanted
I've heard it said
People have mentioned to me that the feeling of romance and love can be compared to a celestial dream
That the thrill of romance can be like
The excitement and anticipation associated with discovering love can be as thrilling as a roller coaster ride
A heavenly dream
Finding someone who connects with me on a deeper level can create a sense of euphoria and contentment
I go to bed
As I lay down to sleep, I have a deep prayer in my heart
With a prayer
I am seeking the divine intervention of a higher power to bless me with true love and solace
That you'll make love to me
I am asking the universe to bring forth someone with whom I can share romantic love that fulfills my deepest desires
Strange as it seems
Even though this longing for love may seem odd to some, it is a deeply felt yearning for someone to love and care for me
Someday we'll meet
I am hopeful of finding someone who is meant for me, even if it is in the future
And you'll dry all my tears
This person will be the one who will comfort and console me, drying all my tears
And whisper sweet
They will speak loving and endearing words to me that will make my heart feel whole
Little things in my ears
It is the small things, such as sweet nothings whispered in my ear, that will make me feel complete
Hugging and a-kissing
Embracing and kissing this person is what I've been missing in my life, and what I yearn for the most
Oh what we've been missing
Together, we have not known the warmth, love and fulfillment that is possible when two hearts combine
Lover man oh where can you be
As I call out the universe to bring forth my true love, I am beseeching and wondering where they may be
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Jimmy Davis/Roger Ramirez/James Sherman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
some jail nurse don't ask
This is unbelievable. He’s the new Kurt Elling. I’m stunned, going to buy and download all this now.
Denis Kostic
Jose James I like his music orientation only 48 views !!!
Elise NIERLICH
I love you