Rating: NNNNN
You may find this Jose James disc filed in the jazz section by virtue of the small-combo acoustic accompaniment, but The Dreamer is straight-up soul music of the sort you rarely hear on contemporary R&B recordings. Think of the warm sensuality of iconoclasts like Jon Lucien or Terry Callier and youll know why Gilles Peterson had to release The Dreamer on his Brownswood label.
But dont get the idea that James is some kind of nostalgic throwback to another era just because hes decided to update Rahsaan Roland Kirks Spirits Up Above. The elegantly progressive arrangements and Jamess phrasing choices are firmly grounded in the here and now. Hiphop fans will know that as soon as he launches into Freestyle Fellowships Park Bench People. Its difficult to say whether an album this live and direct will get any play on urban radio without a huge promotional push, but James is definitely here to stay.
