Credits:

Jose James

Description:

Jose James wrapped up his Blue Note phase after five assorted albums in six years and wasted no time co-founding Rainbow Blonde, a label consolidating his alliance with fellow singer/composer and partner Talia Taali Billig and trusty engineer Brian Bender. First out was a reissue of his Brownswood debut, The Dreamer, followed by releases from Taali, Benders Bright & Guilty, and bassist Ben Williams. James begins his artistic independence with a sequel to his Blue Note debut. Its just as much an extension of his farewell, the Bill Withers testimonial Lean on Me, in that it stresses traditional songcraft and is more about warm and direct communication (mostly fondness and togetherness) than feel and groove. Having already covered a lite FM staple, Withers and Grover Washington, Jr.s Just the Two of Us, James overemphasizes the continuity with a version of Billy Joels Just the Way You Are. He at least strips it of schmaltz and affectation with Brett Williams bopping piano at the fore and Marcus Machados virtuosic guitar (instead of Phil Woods saxophone) taking a solo like its a Steely Dan session. Everything else is original, written by James with Billig and longtime associate Scott Jacoby as chief collaborators. The stylistic range, stretched by Ben Williams and drummers Jamire Williams and Justin Brown, is broader than it is on No Beginning No End, coasting through multiple jazz modes, blues, and gospel, with natural digressions into mid-60s pop-soul, Memphis R&B, organic disco, and adult contemporary. A few of the rootsier numbers -- the lively Aloe Blacc collaboration Turn Me Up, the Lizz Wright duet Take Me Home, the rare sorrowful moment Miss Me When Im Gone included -- have a touch of Withers to them. What differentiates this from all of James previous albums is the large number of guest singers and instrumentalists, all boundary pushers who inject the songs with a constant communal spirit. The hospitality James displays couldnt serve as a more appropriate statement of intent from a label operated by and for artists. ~ Andy Kellman

Tracklisting:

1.I Need Your Love
2.You Know What It Do
3.Feels So Good
4.Turn Me Up
5.Just the Way You Are
6.Baby Don't Cry
7.Nobody Knows My Name
8.Take Me Home
9.I Found a Love
10.Saint James
11.Miss Me When I'm Gone
12.Oracle