José James

BAM R&B Festival at MetroTech. With his smoky voice and suave demeanor, 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 recent dates with McCoy Tyner and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. This afternoon 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.