JOSÉ JAMES AND JEF NEVE
SUNDAY, JUNE 27 • 8 PM
PANTAGES PLAYHOUSE THEATRE
$35 (PLUS AGENCY FEES)
SUNDAY, JUNE 27 • 10:30 PM
RACHEL BROWNE THEATRE
Club Pass and Wristband venue
Individual show ticket: $15 adv./$18 door
For All We Know, José James’ upcoming Impulse! release with noted Belgian pianist Jef Neve, finds the charismatic young vocalist applying his warm, rich baritone to a sterling assortment of timeless jazz and pop standards. The result is an eloquently spare, effortlessly expressive set, with James’ vivid performances and the intimate duo format lending new emotional depth to such beloved classics as “Tenderly,” “Body and Soul,” “Everyday I Have the Blues,” Billy Strayhorn’s “Lush Life,” and George and Ira Gershwin’s “Embraceable You.”
The Minneapolis-born, London-based singer is already a sensation in Britain, Europe, and Japan. Since his arrival on the international scene in 2008, audiences and critics alike have embraced the artist’s talent and versatility, with his first two albums (released on influential DJ/producer Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood Recordings label) winning James a reputation as both a rising star and a vital new creative force.
All but one of For All We Know’s ten songs were recorded in a single informal six-hour session in Belgium. The project came together spontaneously, after James and Neve performed together on a Belgian television show and Neve filled in for James’ regular pianist at a concert in Brussels.
In 2006, while participating in a vocal competition in London, José met Gilles Peterson, who was sufficiently impressed with his talents to sign him to Brownswood Recordings. He released a pair of acclaimed, mostly self-written albums for the label, The Dreamer and Blackmagic. In addition to showcasing the artist’s vocal and songwriting gifts, those albums combined his deep-rooted jazz sensibility with elements of classic soul, contemporary R&B, hip hop, and drum & bass.
Like José, pianist Jef Neve has quickly established himself as one of jazz’s most exciting young talents. Already an established figure in his homeland of Belgium and a rising star in the rest of the world, he’s released five best-selling albums that have won international acclaim. The Jef Neve Trio has performed throughout Europe, including appearances at many of the world’s most prestigious jazz festivals. In 2009, Neve debuted his first piano concerto, with the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra, and won additional notoriety for his musical score for director Felix Van Groeningen’s film The Misfortunates.
Pictures from the first weekend of the 2010 TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival
Jose James & Jef Neve For All We Know released today!
One act you don't want to miss at this year's jazz festival is José James and Jef Neve.
José is a the best young vocalist in the biz right now - he first caught our attention a few years ago with his rendition of John Coltrane's "Equinox."
James has released two great albums – The Dreamer (2008) and BlackMagic (2010) – on British label Brownswood Recordings.
His new record, For All We Know, with Belgian pianist Jef Neve was released TODAY on the legendary Impulse! Jazz label.
Have a listen to the new album HERE, and be sure to see them at the festival opening for Martha Wainwright on June 27, and then catch them later that night at the Rachel Browne Theatre.
