Album Notes

JIMMIE JAMES' CD is an acoustic singer/songwriter captured in an intimate 3-day session. Living in New York City, he draws on his personal experiences and his diverse artistic background to create a unique vocal and musical style.

Like his abstract paintings, a mix of moodiness and broad strokes of light and color, james's mellow music is melancholy but upbeat, gritty but warm. in his trademark gruff vocals he tells stories of "beauty, courage, and foolishness," as HILLARY SNELL wrote in the KNITTING FACTORY KNOTES in 1997.

James's 1999 debut CD, recorded with bassist GERALD CANNON ( Elvin Jones Jazz Machine, Roy Hargrove, McCoy Tyner ) and lead guitarist EDDY LEE PRIEST (the Lost Souls), has drawn rave reviews from around the globe:
Belgian DJ RAY PIETERS-DREESENS describes james' vocal style as a "special story-telling voice." james' music reminds him of "J.J. Cole meets Bo Didley...it's heavenly and strange." Radio stations across the U.S. and in France, Spain, Holland, Italy, and Australia have played james' CD to enthusiastic listeners.

Over the past fifteen years, jimmie james has played a steady stream of gigs at major venues in New York City. Among them: Siné, CBGB's 313 Gallery, Fez, The Knitting Factory, The Mercury Lounge, and most recently at the Living Room, where a captivated audience hung on his every lyric-a typical reaction to james' powerful performances. He has also played with many recognized singer/songwriters, including JEFF BUCKLEY, MARK GEARY, SUSAN McKEWON, and JAY BELLEROSE of the JOE HENRY BAND.

In addition is his successful solo painting career (see the link to the left for further viewing) and collaborative paintings with artistic partner Nuala Clarke-including covers for the Roy Haynes Trio's latest CD, a recent Nina Simone box set, a reissue of John Coltranes and his own self-titled CD-james finds musical inspiration from his poetry. James has read his works of poetry at the Knitting Factory and Zinc Bar in New York City and the Berkeley Museum of Art in Berkeley, California.

the cd JIMMIE JAMES was listed in the top 100 diy cds in the sept/oct 2000 issue of "PERFORMING SONGWRITER" magazine

*three songs from this cd can be heard in the 2002 feature film: "FLORAS GARMENT BURSTING INTO BLOOM" ( premiered at the 'NEW FESTIVAL INC', june 2002 in nyc )

jimmie james has written the songs for the SETH ZVI ROSENFELD play, EVERTHINGS TURNING INTO BEAUTIFUL, which had its run in the summer 2006 at the NEW GROUP THEATRE in New York City, starring MALIK YOBA and DAPHNE RUEBEN-VEGA........

*hear 4 songs from this cd in the new film, "EMPIRE II" written and directed by AMOS POE which just had its international release this past summer (2007)
at the VENICE FILM FESTIVALl in Italy

Highly recommended.
Listen to the audio clips.