José James & Jef Neve

A jazz artist for the hip-hop generation, José James has showcased his rich and graceful baritone voice through a series of unpredictable projects that have blurred the lines between traditional and contemporary jazz, soul, funk, house, and rock, among other genres. While James has cited John Coltrane, Marvin Gaye, and Billie Holiday among his main influences, his sound on early 12" singles and in live performances brought to mind such icons of 1970s soul-jazz as Terry Callier and Gil Scott-Heron, albeit with a distinctive update of those artists' fluid crossover approach. Jam...