José James

A jazz artist for the hip-hop generation, José James showcases his rich and graceful baritone through unpredictable projects blurring lines between numerous genres. He made his album debut with The Dreamer (2008), which incorporated material by Rahsaan Roland Kirk and Freestyle Fellowship, among originals. Cross-generational references typified James' subsequent recordings, whether supported by Flying Lotus and Moodymann on Blackmagic (2010), accompanied only by pianist Jef Neve on For All We Know (2010), or backed by full bands, as heard on No Beginning No End (2013), a set that topped Billboard's jazz chart. Since recording five albums for Blue Note, James has established his Rainbow Blonde label with varied sessions such as No Beginning No End 2 (2020), On & On (2023), and the related 1978 (2024) and 1978: Revenge of the Dragon.