José James

José James is an American singer who is known primarily as an interpreter of modern jazz and hip-hop. He performs all over the world as a band leader and as a member of other groups. Although he cites John Coltrane, Marvin Gaye and Billie Holiday as his main influences, his sound on the early 12 singles and in live performances was reminiscent of such 70s jazz-soul icons as Terry Callier, and his music felt more like an update of a fluid crossover approach Gil Scott-Heron and at the same time was distinctly his own.