1. Autumn in New York
2. Embraceable You
3. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You
4. Body and Soul
5. When I Fall in Love
6. Tenderly
7. Just Squeeze Me
8. Lush Life
9. For All We Know
José James - Vocals
Jef Neve - Piano
It is unusual to have a vocalist accompanied only by a piano, although it is not unknown. For me, the heights in this format were reached by Ella Fitzgerald with Ellis Larkins, although it's a difficult challenge to pull off. According to the sleeve-note, this album was recorded at Galaxy Studios in Brussels on two separate days - in November 2008 and June 2009 - although the publicity says that the recording was made at a single six-hour session. It was recorded in Brussels because pianist Jef Neve is Belgian - and he certainly does a good job of supporting the singer.
American vocalist José James has a pleasantly warm, mellow voice, and both artists take a minimalistic approach - stripping songs almost down to their bare bones, although Jef's piano accompaniments and solos add attractive (though still understated) resonant playing.
The songs are all well-worn jazz standards - one might almost say hackneyed - although the restrained delivery gives them a new atmosphere. For example, When I Fall in Love is transformed by the slow tempo and Neve's thoughtful piano into something fresh.
The only downside to such a duo is that it leaves the participants
very exposed: magnifying James's occasional lapses in intonation and
Neve's very few clangers. José James also has an irritating
habit of diverging from the correct lyrics from time to time. For
instance, in Body and Soul, his omission of "it"
from the end of "It's hard to conceive it" ruins the rhyme
with "I can't believe it". Yet overall this is a very agreeable
album: just right for relaxed listening, although the fact that most
of the songs are very slow may not suit listeners who seek excitement.
Tony Augarde
CD Reviews
Impulse 00602527321493
