JOSÉ JAMES — 1978 (review)

JOSÉ JAMES — 1978 album cover Album · 2024 · RnB Buy this album from MMA partners
4.5/5 ·
snobb
New York-based jazz/R'n'B singer José James's newest album, "1978" (his birth year), is a beautiful and elegant tribute to the music of his childhood. Containing all originals, the album can recall RnB sounds from the 60s and 70s, but it also has vibes that place it clearly in 2024.

The opener "Let's Get It" contains a string quartet and is a hypnotic aerial and percussive piece with a groove and vibe that may remind some of Al Green's laid back work for Stax. “Isis & Osiris” is a repetitive soul piece, sensitive and of fragile atmosphere. “Planet Nine” is funky, but still elegant, with a catchy tune. “Saturday Night (Need You Now)” is danceable and sexy,

"Black Orpheus (Don't Look Back)" is another in the Al Green direction and contains background vocals and beautiful guitar solos. "Dark Side Of The Sun" is a song with a more contemporary sound, it combines organically soul from the 70s with synth arrangements and Belgium-based poet Baloji rapping. "Place Of Worship" is a standalone piece based on international beats and containing Brazilian singer Xênia França vocals, besides José James' own.

"For Trayvon" is a ballade tribute to Trayvon Martin, with sensitive James' vocals over piano and strings. It is a beautiful and memorable melody as well. The closer, "38th & Chicago", contains Afro-Cuban percussion (from Pedrito Martinez) and another guitarist, Marcus Machado, with a lengthy solo.

The music, which connects past and present imperceptibly, may not be the most innovative, but probably the most beautiful album of this genre in the year 2024.
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