Celebrated Vocalist Evokes Marvin Gaye and ‘70s Luminaries

Buy & Stream ‘1978’ HERE

José James, the internationally-acclaimed jazz singer for the hip-hop generation, releases his 12th studio album, ‘1978’ via Rainbow Blonde Records today. ‘1978’ is named after the year James was born and features collaborations with Brazilian rising star and recent Latin Grammy nominee Xênia França, as well as Congolese-Belgian rapper/filmmaker Baloji. Produced by James and featuring an all-star ensemble including Grammy nominees Pedrito Martinez (Camilla Cabello, Eric Clapton), Marcus Machado (Daniel Caesar, Pharoahe Monch), Jharis Yokley (Sleigh Bells, My Brightest Diamond) Chad Selph (Bilal, FREELANCE) and David Ginyard (Solange, Blood Orange), the album successfully captures the sounds of the ‘70s, an era where jazz, soul, disco, and hip-hop fused together and filled the shimmering night clubs across the country. James celebrated the release last night with an in-store performance and signing at his hometown of Minneapolis' Electric Fetus. He'll also be performing and signing records this Sunday, April 7th at 5 pm CT at Chicago's Shuga Records.

Five years in the making, '1978' emerges as James’s most autobiographical work yet, pulsating with the socially conscious party and politics vibes of ‘70s luminaries. Disco-stompers “Saturday Night (Need You Now)” and “Planet Nine” invite listeners to escape on the dance floor, while “For Trayvon” is a poised tribute to Trayvon Martin. “38th & Chicago” expresses James’ outrage and heartbreak surrounding the murder of George Floyd. Despite its infectious beat and hook, the lyrics comprise a stunning/wrenching protest anthem, with a title that references the Minneapolis intersection where George Floyd was murdered, just blocks from where James grew up. James emerges as a leader in today’s global Black music through collaborations like “Dark Side Of The Sun” with Baloji and “Place of Worship” with Xenia França. In recent overseas ‘1978’ reviews, Record Collector likens James to a “Johnny Hartman-like crooner for the hip-hop age,” while Echoes praises his “Marvin-style sexy undulation” on “Black Orpheus [Don’t Look Back].”

James premiered ‘1978’ live earlier this year at the Music Hall of Williamsburg as part of the NYC Winter Jazz Fest. In a few weeks, he’ll return to New York for a week-long residency at Blue Note Jazz Club, performing two shows each night. This spring, overseas fans can see him at esteemed venues across Europe, including Ronnie Scott’s in London, New Morning in Paris, and the Mojo Club in Hamburg. James will return stateside for a fall tour, which includes stops at Los Angeles’ Lodge Room, Ardmore Music Hall, with more cities and venues to be announced soon.

For a full list of tour dates, see below:
Tour Dates:

April 23 – Blue Note Jazz Club – New York, NY

April 24 – Blue Note Jazz Club – New York, NY

April 25 – Blue Note Jazz Club – New York, NY

April 26 – Blue Note Jazz Club – New York, NY

April 27 – Blue Note Jazz Club – New York, NY

April 28 – Blue Note Jazz Club – New York, NY

May 9 – Lensic Performing Arts Center – Santa Fe, NM

May 25 – Het Depot – Leuven, Belgium

May 26 – Mojo Club – Hamburg, Germany

May 27 – Paradiso – Amsterdam, Netherlands

May 28 – La Briqueterie – Schiltigheim, France

May 29 – New Morning – Paris, France

May 30 – Théâtre Lino Ventura – Nice, France

May 31 – Ronnie Scott’s – London, U.K.

June 1 – Ronnie Scott’s – London, U.K.

June 3 – Club Porgy & Bess – Vienna, Austria

June 4 – Moods – Zurich, Switzerland

June 5 – Cosmopolite Scene – Oslo Norway

July 11 – Les Jardins du Palais Longchamp – Marseille, France

July 15 – MSiTJ "Manggha" – Kraków, Poland

September 5 – Ardmore Music Hall – Ardmore, PA

September 15  – Lodge Room – Los Angeles, CA

‘1978’ Tracklist

1. Let’s Get It

2. Isis & Osiris

3. Planet Nine

4. Saturday Night (Need You Now)

5. Black Orpheus (Don’t Look Back)

6. Dark Side Of The Sun feat. Baloji

7. Place Of Worship feat. Xenia França

8. For Trayvon

9. 38th & Chicago

MORE FROM JOSÉ JAMES

josejamesmusic.com • facebook.com/josejamesmusic • instagram.com/josejamesmusic

For more information on José James, please contact:

josejamespr@shorefire.com at Shore Fire Media

JAMES RELEASES HIS GENRE-BRIDGING SONG “DARK SIDE OF THE SUN,” FEATURING CONGOLESE BELGIAN RAPPER AND FILMMAKER BALOJI.

Stream Dark Side of The Sun here

José James, the internationally-acclaimed jazz singer for the hip-hop generation, releases his genre-bridging song “Dark Side of the Sun,” featuring Congolese Belgian rapper and filmmaker Baloji today. The third single from James’ upcoming album ‘1978’ explores the despair of a generation that has lost its heroes and inherited the uncertainty of corporate fame. The song skillfully reimagines sounds from the ‘70s with modern relevance, propelled by Grammy-nominated Talia Billig's soaring string arrangements and drummer Jharis Yokley's dynamic, off-kilter beats.

“Dark Side of the Sun” is a collaboration that has been brewing for 11 years. James and Baloji first crossed paths in 2013 and have maintained a friendship ever since, frequently encountering each other while on tour. The duo always harbored dreams of working together and now after 11 years, they have come together with an urgent and political message, calling for unity in today’s turbulent times. The multi-language cross-continental collaboration continues the rich tradition of global Black music, drawing inspiration from icons like Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder.

James is gearing up to release his twelfth studio album, '1978', out on April 5, 2024. This album stands out as one of his most autobiographical works yet. The first half delves into themes of romantic love and heartbreak, while the second half explores his experiences of growing up as a Black and Latino individual in a frequently hostile and challenging society. Notably, this album marks James' return to the role of producer for the first time since his 2008 debut album, 'The Dreamer.’

Tour Dates:

April 23 – Blue Note Jazz Club – New York, NY

April 24 – Blue Note Jazz Club – New York, NY

April 25 – Blue Note Jazz Club – New York, NY

April 26 – Blue Note Jazz Club – New York, NY

April 27 – Blue Note Jazz Club – New York, NY

April 28 – Blue Note Jazz Club – New York, NY

May 9 – Lensic Performing Arts Center – Santa Fe, NM

May 25 – Het Depot – Leuven, Belgium

May 26 – Mojo Club – Hamburg, Germany

May 27 – Paradiso – Amsterdam, Netherlands

May 28 – La Briqueterie – Schiltigheim, France

May 29 – New Morning – Paris, France

May 30 – Théâtre Lino Ventura – Nice, France

May 31 – Ronnie Scott’s – London, U.K.

June 1 – Ronnie Scott’s – London, U.K.

June 3 – Club Porgy & Bess – Vienna, Austria

June 4 – Moods – Zurich, Switzerland

June 5 – Cosmopolite Scene – Oslo Norway

JAMES’ FEEL-GOOD DANCE BOP HONORING MICHAEL JACKSON & MARVIN GAYE FEATURES MARCUS MACHADO, CHAD SELPH & JHARIS YOKLEY

Stream Saturday Night (Need You Now) here

José James kicks off 2024 with “Saturday Night (Need You Now),” the second single from his forthcoming album ‘1978.’ A combination of late 1970’s disco and R&B with 2020’s pop, the song is a tribute to James’ musical heroes Marvin Gaye, Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson.

“Doing my tribute to Bill Withers inspired me,” James explains. “Singing his hits from the 70’s and 80’s like ‘Lovely Day’ and ‘Just the Two of Us’ made me want to dig deeper and try to write a song that could bring my own joy to people.”

To capture that joy, James tapped Grammy-nominated LA veteran songwriters Talia Billig (Moby, Aloe Blacc) and Kaveh Rastegar (Bruno Mars, Cee-Lo Green). Produced by James and Rastegar the track was recorded at Dreamland Studios, NY, mixed by Pete Min at Lucy’s Meat Market, LA and finally mastered by the indomitable Frank Arkwright at Abbey Road Studios. The studio band includes Grammy nominees Marcus Machado (Daniel Ceasar) and David Ginyard (Blood Orange), as well as up-and-coming stars of the NY scene Chad Selph (Bilal) and Jharis Yokley (Solange).

James is no stranger to R&B and dance collaborations. His song “Live Your Fantasy” (written with Billig and Scott Jacoby) went to #1 on Japanese international charts and was a fixture on the international festival circuit. He has also formerly collaborated with Chicago house legend Moodymann, avant-garde composer/filmmaker Flying Lotus and UK dons Goldie and Basement Jaxx.

The full album ‘1978,’ set for release on April 5, 2024, pulsates with the socially conscious feel-good vibes of Marvin Gaye, Prince and Stevie Wonder. James also skillfully explores the boundaries of Black music beyond his own backyard, featuring Brazilian rising star and recent Latin Grammy nominee Xenia França as well as the Congolese-Belgian rapper/filmmaker Baloji.

The project recently premiered live on January 13th, 2024 at the Music Hall of Williamsburg as part of the NYC Winter Jazz Fest. James is set to return to New York for a four-night residency at Blue Note Jazz Club this spring, performing 2 shows each night. He will also perform overseas at esteemed venues across Europe, including Ronnie Scott’s in London, New Morning in Paris, and the Mojo Club in Hamburg.

For a full list of tour dates, see below:

February 8 – Botti at Sea – Miami, FL

February 17 – Capital Jazz Supercruise 2024– Florida City, FL

April 25 – Blue Note Jazz Club – New York, NY

April 26 – Blue Note Jazz Club – New York, NY

April 27 – Blue Note Jazz Club – New York, NY

April 28 – Blue Note Jazz Club – New York, NY

May 9 – Lensic Performing Arts Center – Santa Fe, NM

May 25 – Het Depot – Leuven, Belgium

May 26 – Mojo Club – Hamburg, Germany

May 27 – Paradiso – Amsterdam, Netherlands

May 28 – La Briqueterie – Schiltigheim, France

May 29 – New Morning – Paris, France

May 30 – Théâtre Lino Ventura – Nice, France

May 31 – Ronnie Scott’s – London, U.K.

June 1 – Ronnie Scott’s – London, U.K.

June 3 – Club Porgy & Bess – Vienna, Austria

June 4 – Moods – Zurich, Switzerland

June 5 – Cosmopolite Scene – Oslo Norway

JAMES’ SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS SONG IN MEMORY OF GEORGE FLOYD FEATURES PEDRITO MARTINEZ, MARCUS MACHADO, CHAD SELPH & JHARIS YOKLEY 

Stream 38th & Chicago here

José James, the internationally-acclaimed jazz singer for the hip-hop generation announces 38th & Chicago, the first single from his forthcoming album 1978. Named after the intersection in James’ hometown Minneapolis where George Floyd was tragically murdered in 2020, the song is an exploration of faith, sorrow and perseverance in the face of police brutality against the Black community. 

“It’s close,” James explains. “Too close. I grew up a few blocks from there and had my first concert down the street at Powderhorn Park. I’ve walked by that store a million times, that could have easily been me.” 

James is no stranger to socially conscious music. In 2015 he and Rainbow Blonde Records president Talia Billig created the protest video Peace Power Change along with fellow creatives Robert Glasper, Keyon Harold and Rich Medina. That same year saw the Blue Note Records release of “Yesterday I Had the Blues: The Music of Billie Holiday” which featured a haunting version of “Strange Fruit.” In 2020 he released “When They See Us” - originally intended for Ava DuVernay’s acclaimed drama of the same name - in solidarity with the families, activists, protesters and communities actively working to end police brutality and systemic racism against the Black community.

Musically, 38th & Chicago represents a new departure for James and an investigation of his Afro-Latin heritage. Produced by James and featuring an all-star ensemble including Grammy nominees Pedrito Martinez (Camilla Cabello), Marcus Machado (Daniel Ceasar) and David Ginyard (Blood Orange), the song combines Latin Jazz, soul and R&B into a powerful plea for change. 

The full album “1978”, set for release on April 4, 2024, pulsates with the socially conscious feel-good vibes of Marvin Gaye, Prince and Stevie Wonder. James also skillfully explores the boundaries of Black music beyond his own backyard, featuring Brazilian rising star and recent Latin Grammy nominee Xenia França as well as the Congolese-Belgian rapper/filmmaker Baloji.

The project will premiere live on January 13th, 2024 at the Music Hall of Williamsburg as part of NYC Winter Jazz Fest.  For a full list of tour dates visit www.josejamesmusic.com.

When José James released No Beginning No End 2 (2020), a collaborative effort that paired the forward-looking vocalist with a global all-star cast including Ledisi, Aloe Blacc, and Laura Mvula, it was apparent that the genre-defying artist was back to stake his claim as the jazz singer for the hip-hop generation. In that light his new project, On & On: José James Sings Badu finds James throwing down the gauntlet on the past 100 years of jazz singing while charting a path forward for the culture.

“It’s simple” James explains. “Jazz singing has always been about interpreting the highest level of standards of your time. And for my generation Erykah Badu has been one of the most innovative and incisive songwriters. Her work has proven to be groundbreaking in a social, musical and artistic sense.”

The album, produced by James with contributions from like-minded musicians Big Yuki (A Tribe Called Quest), Ben Williams (Kamasi Washington), and Jharis Yokley (My Brightest Diamond) investigates the breadth of Badu’s iconic catalog, from her groundbreaking debut album Baduizm to her contemporary masterpieces New Amerykah Pt. 1 and 2. 

But make no mistake: This is thoroughly a jazz album. Conceived in the spirit of Herbie Hancock’s River: The Joni Letters, James artfully draws upon his experiences with modern masters McCoy Tyner, Robert Glasper and Flying Lotus to create a new sonic landscape through an improvisatory lens. 

James also builds on his reputation as a modern jazz tastemaker by introducing featured horn players Ebban Dorsey and Diana Dzhabbar. “As an artist and performer Badu has consistently created opportunities for young artists both on and off her stage,” James explains. “It only made sense to include the next generation.” 

Listen / Buy here: https://www.rainbowblonde.co/onandon

Rainbow Blonde Records announces its first US tour featuring label stars Taali, Ben Williams and José James. With a collective of innovative musicians (including keyboardist Big Yuki, guitarist Marcus Machado and drummer Jharis Yokley), RB Live showcases the fearless visionary spirit of a label dedicated to the best in R&B, indie pop and jazz.

“Rainbow Blonde is about freedom of expression,” says James. “Every artist on this label has something unique and powerful to say and it’s an honor to be a part of it.”

Label co-founder and Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter/producer Taali will debut new songs from her forthcoming album “taali.” (out Sept 9th). The self-titled album is a stunning combination of both her NYC singer-songwriter roots and her LA indie pop sensibilities, referencing artists such as Sufjan Stevens, Regina Spektor, Beck and Joni Mitchell. Created between New York, LA, Sfinari and Amsterdam, the album reveals the vision of a world traveler, exploring hard-won personal revelations through a landscape of exquisitely woven synths, strings and pristine vocals

Grammy Award winning bassist and vocalist Ben Williams will perform songs from his Rainbow Blonde debut “I Am A Man.” The album boasts a humid and hazy sound that recalls Soulaquarian albums released by The Roots, Erykah Badu, Bilal, D’Angelo, Common, and Roy Hargrove’s RH Factor. “I wanted to make this not just a musical statement, but sonically, I wanted to dig into a different sound. I wanted this record to deal with the past, present, and future,” Williams says. On I Am A Man, he makes a grand departure from the mostly acoustic instrumental settings of his previous albums and brings his love for modern R&B and hip-hop and his socio-political awareness to the fore with mesmerizing vocal-centric songs that will surely raise his profile higher in modern soul and rap circles. 

Closing out the night, José James will perform songs from his album “No Beginning No End 2,” a future soul classic featuring collaborations with Aloe Blacc, Ledisi, Lizz Wright and Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah. “I’ve waited a long time to share this music with my fans” says James. “But it’s worth the wait: This is the right moment for this music and for this label.”

Tour dates:

6.09 – DC, City Winery | Tickets

6.10 – Philly, City Winery | Tickets

6.11 – Portsmouth, NH Jimmy’s on Congress | (Tickets available 3/27/22)

6.12 – Boston, City Winery | Tickets

José James releases his first ever Christmas album Merry Christmas from José James today. In addition to the album release, José also premieres the official performance video for the original track "Christmas in New York.”

Listen here: rainbowblonde.co/merrychristmas

Listeners can find two original tracks, “Christmas in New York” and “Christmas Day” along with popular ballads such as “The Christmas Song,” “White Christmas,” “Let it Snow” and “This Christmas,” a modern twist on the Donny Hathaway holiday favorite. In James' version, he musically brings an aspect of R&B and hip-hop, rounding out the mostly jazz collection.

Songwriting for the project was spearheaded by José James and his partner, recently Grammy nominated Talia Billig. The album’s studio band features Grammy winning and nominated all stars Ben Williams (bass), Aaron Parks (piano), Jharis Yokley (drums) and Marcus Strickland (soprano saxophone). Produced by José James and Brian Bender and recorded by Ariel Shafir at Dreamland Studios, the album was mastered by Frank Arkwright at Abbey Road Studios. The session was recorded completely live on 2” tape and mixed in LCR (left-center-right) by Brian Bender at Motherbrain West.

“It’s the perfect album to put on whenever there’s a certain spirit in the air,” James says. “I hope that people can feel a little bit of the joy and the wonder, year round, that 8-year-old José felt, not only about Christmas and all the obvious things—the ornaments, the tree, the holiday season—but also the music,” he continued.

A 13 date tour to support the album will launch at SF Jazz in San Francisco on November 27th and conclude at New York’s City Winery on December 14th. Stops also include Seattle, Portland, Santa Cruz, LA, Phoenix, Santa Fe, Minneapolis and Chicago. (All tour dates listed below).

Tour Dates

November 27 – SF Jazz – San Francisco, CA
November 28 – SF Jazz – San Francisco, CA
November 30 – Jazz Alley – Seattle, WA
December 1 – Jazz Alley – Seattle, WA
December 2 – The Old Church – Portland, OR
December 4 – Kuumbwa – Santa Cruz
December 5 – Masonic Lodge – Los Angeles, CA
December 7– MIM – Phoenix, AZ
December 9 –The Lensic – Santa Fe,
December 11 – Dakota – Minneapolis, MN
December 12 – Dakota – Minneapolis, MN
December 13 – City Winery – Chicago, IL
December 14 – City Winery – New York, NY