On the debut album from New York New School vocalist
Jose James, he makes a move toward a new era of jazz vocals. While jazz elements have been making their way into underground hip-hop for years,
James turns the other direction. He sings contemporary jazz with a strong sense of respect for the classics, but quietly puts hip-hop instrumentation behind his vocals, and multi-tracks himself for accentuation.
James is in the midst of creating an entirely modern approach to jazz singing here over a set of originals with a few covers thrown in (the highlight being
Rahsaan Roland Kirk's "Spirits Up Above"). [A Japanese release adds the classics "Body and Soul" and "Moanin'."] ~ Adam Greenberg