José James

With his smoky voice and suave demeanor, local singer José James has emerged as a torchbearer for the tradition pioneered by Billy Eckstine and Johnny Hartman, on For All We Know, a duo CD with Jef Neve, and in a recent date with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Tonight, though, you'll likely hear him dip into the funky soul-jazz sound he embraced on Blackmagic, his second album for Gilles Petersen's Brownswood label.