New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Ahead of the release of his first Christmas album Merry Christmas from José
James (out November 19th), José
James releases his holiday single "Christmas in New York" today. The original Christmas track follows the single release of "My Favorite Things" featuring acclaimed saxophonist Marcus Strickland.
Co-written by James' Grammy nominated partner Talia Billig, the track features the all star trio of
Aaron Parks (piano), Ben Williams (bass) and Jharis Yokley (drums). "I wrote 'Christmas in New York' for people like myself who aren't able to see their families another year,"
James says. "That kind of picture-perfect scene of people throwing snowballs and making a snowman in Central Park and Wollman Rink and that whole beautiful Manhattan Christmas… It was my dream as a kid, and then I got to live it. There's a lot of love in that," he concludes.
Merry Christmas from José
James (Rainbow Blonde Records) celebrates the holiday season while honoring classic jazz and pop records of the 1950s. Combining the classic jazz-crooner elegance of
Frank Sinatra and Nat "King" Cole with the earthy sophistication of soul legends
Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway, the ten track album is an auditory holiday experience like no other. A 13 date tour to support the album will launch at SF Jazz in San Francisco on November 27th and conclude at New York's City Winery on December 14th. Stops also include Seattle, Portland,
Santa Cruz, LA, Phoenix,
Santa Fe, Minneapolis and Chicago. (All tour dates listed below).
James, a Minneapolis, MN native who spent most of his career in New York, was discovered by Gilles Peterson in London before his major label debut with Blue Note Records. He has produced and written 11 albums covering the best of jazz, pop, hip-hop and R&B. In 2017, José made his screen debut with a performing role in Fifty Shades Darker. He now lives in Amsterdam with Talia Billig, his partner and Grammy nominated songwriter.
Track Listing
**** represents original recording
1. Christmas in New York ****
2. This Christmas
3. The Christmas Song
4. I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm
5. The Christmas Waltz
6. Have Yourself a Merry
Little Christmas
7. Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!
8. Christmas Day ****
9. My Favorite Things (feat. Marcus Strickland)
10. White Christmas
Tour Dates
November 27 - SF Jazz - San Francisco, CA
November 28 - SF Jazz - San Francisco, CA
November 30 - Jazz Alley - Seattle, WA
December 1 - Jazz Alley - Seattle, WA
December 2 - The Old Church - Portland, OR
December 4 - Kuumbwa -
Santa Cruz
December 5 - Masonic Lodge - Los Angeles, CA
December 7- MIM - Phoenix, AZ
December 9 -The Lensic -
Santa Fe,
December 11 - Dakota - Minneapolis, MN
December 12 - Dakota - Minneapolis, MN
December 13 - City Winery - Chicago, IL
December 14 - City Winery - New York, NY
