Jose James

The historically and musically significant year of 1978 is also the year Jose was born in Minneapolis, and now, is the title of his twelfth album.

Released this past spring, 1978 features 9 transcendent tracks that capture Jose James at a mid-career apex, craftily overlapping Soul, Hip-Hop, Jazz and other Jazz-adjacent styles into a fully realized album of remarkable focus. The songs range from the deeply personal intimacy to politically minded and message-driven. The grooves stretch from edgy and resolute, to relaxed and seductive. The performances are supported by a lean-and-lithe lineup of young talent and unexpected collaborators: guitarist Marcus Machado (who has played with Robert Glasper and Anderson .Paak), keyboardist Chad Selph (Lalah Hathaway, Bilal), bassist David Ginyard (Solange, Blood Orange), drummer Jharis Yokley (Chance the Rapper, Ani DiFranco) and featured guest on various tracks, Latin conguero Pedrito Martinez.

"This kind of band, small and tight, is how I stay connected to my jazz essence," states James. "They can play anything. Everything we tracked, we did with everyone looking at each other in the studio. "I wanted that live feeling, like we're discovering it for the first time."

Jose James's 1978 draws its power from both a timeless relevancy and a deep sense of the personal. It is a richly layered musical statement connecting both to the present day, and to past sounds and styles as well—a sincere and seductive valentine to his love of jazz, soul and hip-hop.


Category: Arts | Performing Arts | Music