Jazz Singer Andy James Releases New Album “Happy People” | WATCH NEW VIDEO!
JAZZ AND FLAMENCO ARTIST ANDY JAMES RELEASES NEW ALBUM WITH ALL-STAR GROUP TITLED “HAPPY PEOPLE”
Long before James moved to the U.S. from Melbourne, Australia to perform in clubs and theaters in America, record her favorite jazz standards, and become a recording artist, James was a world-acclaimed flamenco dancer in Spain and Europe. Thus, the inspiration to record and release the new album near and dear to her heart. “HAPPY PEOPLE,” James’ eighth studio album, was recorded in locations all over the world – at separate junctures from spring to fall 2024 in NYC, Rome, Seville, Spain, and in James and her husband Piero’s adopted hometown of Las Vegas.
Fusing jazz and flamenco music, the two great loves of the multi-talented singer, songwriter and vocalist, the album was written and produced by Piero Pata and Jon Cowherd, and features an ensemble of American and Latin jazz greats that explore the emotional ups and downs of romance while bringing together the two musical genres.
In addition to her touring band of pianist Jon Cowherd; B-3 player John Beasley; sax and bass clarinetist John Ellis; and tenor saxophonist Rick Margitza; her ensemble on “HAPPY PEOPLE” also includes leading Brazilian guitarist Chico Pinheiro; Cuban bassist Carlito Del Puerto; drummer Marcus Gilmore (a onetime member of Chick Corea’s Spanish Heart Band); Peruvian born percussionist Alex Acuna (formerly of Weather Report); and French percussionist Mino Cinelu. The U.S.-born backing musicians include saxophonist David Binney and bassist James Genus.
Says Cowherd: “It has been an incredible experience working on ‘Happy People,’ and I’m so honored to have been a part of it on so many levels involving writing, arranging, playing and producing. The task of combining the traditional rhythms and forms of Flamenco with Jazz presented a new and exciting opportunity and I am very grateful to Andy James & Piero Pata for inviting me to the table. I couldn’t be more excited about the release of this collection of songs performed so sublimely and passionately by Andy.”
About Andy James:
After many years as an internationally acclaimed flamenco dancer, based in Madrid, and traveling the globe with some of the genre’s most acclaimed musicians and performers – from big theaters in Spain to venues in France, Germany, Czech Republic and Japan (the largest market for flamenco music in the world) – James toured the world. Leaving the flamenco circuit for a new life in the U.S., James began casually recording her favorite jazz standards, making an artful transition into jazz, both as a singer of heartfelt originals and stellar interpreter of timeless classics and jazz renditions of the Great American Songbook era and beyond when she released her debut album, CARAVAN, in 2018. While in Spain, she had participated in players jams at clubs such as Café Madrid, so she felt right at home when she decided to start performing at jazz clubs across the United States, including venues in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami, as well as throughout California. Additionally, she has headlined at prestigious Jazz Festivals across Europe. James and Piero Pata formed an independent label, Le Coq Records to release her music, working with acclaimed veteran jazz musicians including John Patitucci, Vinnie Colauita, Nate Smith, Nicholas Payton Terell Stafford, Alex Acuna, Rick Margitza, Chico Pinheiro, and many more. Previous albums in James’ discography include: CARAVAN (2018), SHARED LIVES (2019), BLUE (2019), AN EVENING WITH/ ANDY JAMES AND JOHN PATITUCCI (2021), TU AMOR (2021) RHYTHM IN NEW YORK (2021) and LET ME SEE YOUR HEART (2024).
Follow Andy James on Instagram at @AndyJamesJazz and please visit: www.andyjames.com.
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