Listen to the Album:
https://www.rainbowblonde.co/revengeofthedragon
Watch the Short Film Revenge of The Dragon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2fx74arEh8
May 16, 2025 — Today, genre-defying vocalist, producer, and creative visionary José James releases his 13th studio album, 1978: Revenge of The Dragon, via his own Rainbow Blonde Records. Set against the backdrop of his birth year (1978), 1978: Revenge of The Dragon captures the electric tension of a transformative cultural moment. James draws from the chaotic swirl of influences that defined the late ’70s: the experimental edge of New York’s loft and jazz scenes, the pop brilliance of Elton John and Billy Joel, the revolutionary pulse of Bob Marley and the Isley Brothers, the cosmic funk of Parliament-Funkadelic, and the unstoppable rise of punk and disco. Beneath it all was a sense of convergence—genres colliding, boundaries dissolving. It was a cultural crescendo, visually soundtracked by kung fu and Blaxploitation double features. James channels that restless spirit into a bold, cinematic sound that feels both timeless and radical.
Written and produced by James, with contributions from Grammy-nominated songwriters Talia Billig and Kaveh Rastegar, 1978: Revenge of The Dragon radiates the rebellious underground energy of the late ’70s. An all-star cast of collaborators brings the project to life, including trumpeter Takuya Kuroda, saxophonists Ben Wendel and Ebban Dorsey, and genre-bending keyboardist BIGYUKI. The rhythm section features David Ginyard (Blood Orange) and Kyle Miles (Meshell Ndegeocello) on bass, with Jharis Yokley (Solange) on drums. The 8-track collection combines four new originals and daring reinterpretations of late-’70s classics.
Among the standout tracks is “Tokyo Daydream (feat. Taali),” a mesmerizing, disco-tinged strut through the late-night streets of Tokyo, bouncing through Roppongi, Shibakoen, and the trendy club Electrik Jinja. James also reimagines era-defining hits, including a soulful, horn-laced take on Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You” featuring Kuroda—an homage to their decade-long creative partnership. Other covers span The Rolling Stones, Herbie Hancock, and the Bee Gees, all filtered through James’ singular blend of tradition and innovation.
Coinciding with the album is James’ debut short film, Revenge of the Dragon—a 17-minute martial arts fantasy inspired by classic Shaw Brothers cinema. Part hero’s quest, part musical fever dream, James stars as “Twin Tiger,” a master-in-training on a journey to defeat the notorious Black Dragon Clan. Guided by a mysterious figure deep in the forest, Twin Tiger undergoes intense training to harness the power of the universe—only to discover that nothing is as it seems. The film follows a surreal, spiritual journey of training, transformation, and cosmic revelation.
Directed by James and Joseph Digiovanna, and executive produced by James and Billig, the film nods to kung fu staples like The 36th Chamber of Shaolin and The Five Venoms. The narrative also reflects James’ personal journey—after a recent health scare, he began intensive training in Shaolin Kung Fu and Qi Gong in Temple City, CA. Taught almost entirely in Chinese, the classes tested his mind, body, and spirit.
“Shaolin Kung Fu and jazz have a lot in common—they’re both rooted in deep traditions, passed down through generations,” says James. “You study the fundamentals not just to master them, but to discover your own voice within them.”
James will support the project with a global tour, including headline shows at Blue Note Jazz Club in New York, Los Angeles, and São Paulo; Ronnie Scott’s in London; and major festival appearances at Jazz Aspen Snowmass, San Jose Jazz Summer Fest, Love Supreme Festival (UK), and Joy of Jazz (South Africa). He will also make a special appearance supporting Lionel Richie at Jazzopen Stuttgart in Germany.
1978: Revenge of The Dragon is available in limited quantities on vinyl and cassette, with exclusive merch available now.
For tickets and tour updates, visit josejamesmusic.com.
1978: Revenge of The Dragon Track Listing
1. Tokyo Daydream (feat. Taali)
2. Rock With You (feat. Takuya Kuroda)
3. Rise Of The Tiger
4. They Sleep, We Grind (for Badu)
5. I Thought It Was You (feat. Ebban Dorsey)
6. Miss You
7. Inside And Out (feat. Ben Wendel)
8. Last Call At The Mudd Club
José James 2025 Tour Dates
May 19 – New York, NY @ Blue Note Jazz Club (2 shows)
May 20 – New York, NY @ Blue Note Jazz Club (2 shows)
May 21 – New York, NY @ Blue Note Jazz Club (2 shows)
May 22 – New York, NY @ Blue Note Jazz Club (2 shows)
May 22 – New York, NY @ Rough Trade
June 5 – Truro, MA @ Payomet Performing Arts Center
June 8 – Columbia, MD @ Capital Jazz Festival
June 14 – Santa Teresa, Brazil @ Bossa & Jazz Festival
June 16 – São Paulo, Brazil @ Blue Note
June 20 – Rio Das Ostras, Brazil @ Jazz & Blues Festival
June 21 – Rio Das Ostras, Brazil @ Jazz & Blues Festival
June 27 – Aspen, CO @ Jazz Aspen Snowmass
July 6 – Glynde, United Kingdom @ Love Supreme Festival
July 8 – London, UK @ Ronnie Scott’s (2 shows)
July 9 – Rome, Italy @ Casa del Jazz
July 10 – Gent, Belgium @ Gent Jazz
July 11 – Paris, France @ New Morning
July 13 – Stuttgart, Germany @ Jazzopen Festival (opening for Lionel Richie)
July 14 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Paradiso
July 15 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ Bremen Theater
July 17 – Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain @ Jazz Festival
July 19 – Amarante, Portugal @ Mimo Festival
August 4 – Los Angeles, CA @ Blue Note (2 shows)
August 5 – Los Angeles, CA @ Blue Note (2 shows)
August 6 – Los Angeles, CA @ Blue Note (2 shows)
August 8 – San Jose, CA @ San Jose Jazz Summer Fest
September 26 – Sandton, South Africa @ Joy of Jazz
About José James
José James is both conductor and conduit. Across 17 years as a singer, songwriter, bandleader, and producer — not to mention co-head of the fearless Rainbow Blonde Records since 2018 — he’s dived deep, over and over again, into genres, eras, scenes, and songbooks, exploring with the verve of a reverent musicologist, and then churning it all up with the confidence of a master
practitioner. Blessed with a silken baritone that sounds classic against any backdrop, James first turned heads on his 2008 debut The Dreamer by subtly swirling contemporary jazz with hip-hop instrumentation. As it turned out, mixing those two fluid, frenetic, and frequently time-travelling strains set off a deeply soulful discography that knows no bounds. There was his stunning Blue Note breakthrough No Beginning No End (2013), recorded with fellow genre upsetters like Pino Palladino and Robert Glasper. There was an album of standards, For All We Know (2010); the rock-addled While You Were Sleeping (2014); and that time he ditched the bands and became a modern R&B star for Love in a Time of Madness (2017). He’s also taken a Method approach to covers projects — even matching his wardrobe to his subjects’ worlds — like 2015’s Yesterday I Had the Blues (Billie Holiday), 2018’s Lean On Me (Bill Withers), and 2023’s On & On (Erykah Badu). He’s released dynamic live LPs, a Christmas set, and a four-album series inspired by hooky, funky, disco-dipped songcraft of the ’70s, culminating in his latest, 1978: Revenge of the Dragon (2025). That last one is as immediate, unpredictable, and vibrant as anything James has made, affirming the mantra in the lead single’s title: “They Sleep, We Grind.”
Photo Credit: Janette Beckman
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For more information on José James, please contact:
josejamespr@shorefire.com at Shore Fire Media