Last Friday, April 5, the internationally acclaimed jazz singer with a hip-hop flair José James finally unveiled his 12th studio album: "1978," out now through Rainbow Blonde Records.
The record was born out of James' collaborations with rising artists, including Grammy-nominated Latin singer Xênia França and Congolese-Belgian rapper and filmmaker Baloji, whose joint project with the jazz singer was reported by ClassicaLite last month.
Produced by James himself, the collection of nine songs infused with 1970s-era jazz, soul, disco, and hip-hop also features an all-star ensemble that includes Grammy nominees Pedrito Martinez, Marcus Machado, Jharis Yokley, Chad Selph, and David Ginyard.
James commemorated the release of his foremost musical project through an in-store performance and signing event at the Electric Fetus record store in his hometown of Minneapolis.
This Sunday, April 7, at 5 PM CT, he will hold another signing and performance event at Shuga Records in Chicago.
Behind José James' Creation Process for '1978'
James toiled for over five years in the creation of his most autobiographical work yet, infusing socially and politically conscious narrative themes with the body-surging soundscapes made popular by '70s luminaries like Marvin Gaye.
Representing the disco niche of the time are James' quintessential disco-stompers "Saturday Night (Need You Now)" and "Planet Nine," with his "For Trayvon" track acting as a straight-up tribute for Gaye.
James then moves to more politically heavy narratives through his "38th & Chicago," expressing through its lyrics the anger and loss the artist felt after the murder of George Floyd.
Underscoring the depth of its theme is an infectious jazzy bassline with sweeping beats and a steadily rising energy, mimicking the outrage that strengthened shortly after Floyd's murder at a Minneapolis intersection, just blocks away from James' childhood home.
Contrasting the grim reality highlighted by his Floyd tribute is the artist's collaborative work with Baloji, entitled "Dark Side Of The Sun," positioning James as one of the leaders of today's Black music landscape.
You can now stream and order "1978" by clicking here, or you can listen to the album's tracks through the previews right below.
The forerunning jazz artist first premiered the record earlier in 2024, at the Music Hall of Williamsburg during the NYC Winter Jazz Fest.
A few weeks from now, he'll be returning to New York for a week-long performing residency at the Blue Note Jazz Club, gracing the stage up to two times per night. This coming Spring, overseas fans can see James perform across famed venues in Europe.
The EU segment will run across Ronnie Scott's in London, New Morning in Paris, and the Mojo Club in Hamburg, before returning stateside for the Fall leg of his upcoming tour, including stops at LA's Lodge Room, Ardmore Music Hall, and more yet to be announced.
Full List of José James' Upcoming 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
