Jose James Brings His Jazz + Soul To Seattle

Jose James

Seattle - Jose James came through town for a perfect weekday show, visiting The Crocodile in support of his new album on the legendary Blue Note label, While You Were Sleeping. The singer-songwriter put on a relaxed show full of talented musicians. The result was a sultry, soulful, and sexy show.

When James entered, the crowd congregated close to the stage. It wasn’t a packed crowd, but for a 21+ show on a Tuesday, that’s typical. Friends of the band members, couples on a date, and lovers of jazz and rock alike were all present.

His set started off slow with some jazzy jams that got the crowd swaying. He came on stage donning sunglasses with a cool demeanor and continued to hold onto that persona as he brought out his acoustic guitar and played through several songs, with the band playing behind him. James kept the talking to a minimum as he played his signature blend of R&B, jazz, and rock.  His ability to transition between genres was seamless.

While Jose James’ most recent work has electronic aspects, he is touring with a full band that includes a guitarist, keyboardist, drummer, and guest vocalist. This brought a level of liveliness to the show even when the songs were a little slower.  And the show was certainly focused on the relationship between Jose James and his band. In some songs he would use three background vocalists, adding to the communal feeling of the night.

It wasn’t one of those shows where the crowd is crammed up to the very front of the stage, but the energy was apparent. It was the exact vibe you want from a jazzy R&B artist. But when an incredibly catchy and smooth song like “Trouble” was performed, the entire audience was dancing (or at the very least swaying).

He stayed true to jazz traditions by including a shout-out to Coltrane and giving solos to the guitarist and keyboardist. The improvised bits were not only honorable of the genre, but to his band mates as well, a talented bunch who earned their individual moments in the spotlight. This kept the show interesting and held the audience’s attention to see what would come up next.

The set was not complete without a lovely duet with his female guest singer that showed the impressive range of both of their vocals. James also showed off his vocal talents with some improvisation. The band kept up with him, showing their energy and connection with one another. He added a predictable—but enjoyable—cover of Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine” and the crowd’s admiration was heard as almost everyone in the club was singing along. James closed out the show with his energetic new single, “Every Little Thing.”

Overall, it was a solid performance that showed the musically abilities of not only himself, but his entire band. Versatility is the name of the game and Jose James has got it. He is continuing touring on the west coast before heading over to Europe. Check out the dates on his Facebook.

Jess Keller

Jess Keller

Jess has been up and down the California coast but now has landed in Seattle, Washington. With a degree in Film and Media from UC Santa Barbara, she takes part in music journalism, photography and film projects. Her iPod shuffles through hardcore, Midwest indie rap, dreamy electro-pop and everything in between. You are most likely to find her jamming out to vinyl with a good cup of coffee and computer or cat in lap…sometimes both.
Jess Keller