On and On: José James Sings Badu

Saturday, September 9, 2023 | 8:00 pm

Reynolds Industries Theater

Celebrated New York-based singer José James has been called a “jazz singer for the hip-hop generation,” as he shares a genre-bending sound influenced by jazz as well as contemporary hip hop, soul, R&B, and pop/rock.

James emerged on the jazz scene in 2008 with the release of his more traditional vocal jazz debut, Dreamer, but over the years, James’ sound has coalesced as a confluence of musical styles. His second record, Blackmagic, leaned decidedly neo-soul, his 2014 project, While You Were Sleeping, drew on the rock influences of James’ childhood, and 2018’s Lean On Me explored the music of R&B legend Bill Withers.

James comes to Duke Arts with On & On, a project dedicated entirely to the undeniable vibe and penetrating songwriting of Erykah Badu. Considering Badu’s distinctive songs as some of the standards of his time, James delivers creatively reimagined Badu covers with effortless cool.

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“Sounds like the result of the black-pop continuum, jazz and soul and hip-hop and R&B, slow-cooked for more than 50 years.”