Born and raised in Minneapolis, José James came of age with the sounds of… Read Full Bio ↴Born and raised in Minneapolis, José James came of age with the sounds of Prince, hip-hop and Modern jazz. Discovering an early passion for both music and creative writing, José combined these through performance – singing jazz standards, originals, and the works of John Coltrane with his quartet throughout the Twin Cites. Becoming a member of the groundbreaking avant-garde performance poetry and jazz ensemble Ancestor Energy, José was determined to devote his life to music, community, and spiritual unity.

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/

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José James Lyrics

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…

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