For All We Know

Jef Neve, Jose James | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 11, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Verve
• ASIN: B0039TD8KS
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #48,538 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

"A labor of love" is how José James describes his May 11, 2010, release For All We Know, his first American release and his first for the Impulse! label. A collaboration between James and noted Belgian pianist Jef Neve, the album finds the charismatic young singer applying his warm, rich baritone to a sterling assortment of jazz standards, including "Tenderly," "Body and Soul" and George and Ira Gershwin's "Embraceable You." All but one of For All We Know's songs was recorded in one informal six-hour session at Galaxy Studios in Mol, Belgium, with no producer, no overdubs and no retakes.

While For All We Know presents José James as a masterful vocal interpreter, the artist's resume encompasses an impressive variety of musical experiences. After moving to New York to attend the New School's prestigious jazz program, he studied with instrumental legends Junior Mance and Chico Hamilton. James' growing notoriety led to collaborations with a wide assortment of jazz, club and hip-hop acts, including Basement Jaxx, Nicola Conte, Jazzanova, Flying Lotus and Christian McBride.

Having already won the hearts of international audiences, José James is enthusiastic about the opportunity to make a splash in his home country. "It's so exciting, and it's a huge honor to be on Impulse; it's Trane's house. I'm very proud of this record, and I love being able to give back to the music that nurtured me."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Really nice voice piano duet, August 14, 2010

By 

C. Katz "Chazzbo" (Peoples Republic Of Massachussettes) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: For All We Know (Audio CD)

Jef Neve is a fine young pianist I'd like to hear more of but Jose James is the star here (bold to do pure standards CD with just a panist a la Tony Bennet and Bill Evans).Jose James is called "The Hip Hop Generations Jazz Singer".Here are all standards (unlike the original material on earlier James CD's) and it really nice,He has a voice that to my ears is close to a mix between Lou Rawls and Bill Henderson just a bit lighter in tone than either.And now on his first standard CD's he does the standards standard cannon:
1. Autumn In New York 3:20
2. Embraceable You 6:15
3. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You 5:19
4. Body And Soul 6:26
5. When I Fall In Love 5:14
6. Tenderly 7:26
7. Just Squeeze Me 4:15
8. Lush Life 7:28
9. For All We Know 5:13
Daring or predictable?I can't say.But if you "have it" why not choose the best especially when you only have the piano and voice.Excecution and not discovering second tier material that may be worthy is not the goal.Their is no attampt to prove taste in choosing lesser material.That would be a bit preachy or "teachy" and here it's just proving chops that is goal.
You like if you enjoy Johnny Hartman and Leon Thomas (this is less "70's Hip" than Thomas but in same vein more like where Andy Bey has ended up).I first heard James on and excellent Timo Lassy CD "Round Two" (I recommend both of Lassy's solo CD's and his work with U-Street All Stars and the "Five Corners Quintet" which features Mark Murphy).If you like this and especially the earlier James CD than you'd dig Dwight Tribble who has a sound VERY similar to his hero Leon Thomas but you will find tone/sound of both Dwight Tribble sensibility and sound to both be in the same great vein.But Lassy and Tribble harken to late 60's Blue Note or early 70's jazz/funk fusion whereas this excellent CD hearkens back to pure jazz singing of the 50's.Really nice if not a a perfect CD.
Cheers
Chazz