José James‘s new album, “Blackmagic” will be released on January 30th. I had the great surprise to have it last December when we received (Free Your Funk Event) Gilles Peterson for a party, he discovered I was a fan of José James and so gave me a copy of the album, great christmas gift! Since I keep listening to it in the car and I can tell you “It’s a MUST-HAVE”! My favorite so far is “Code”, a song produced by Flying Lotus. The production goes perfectly with José James’s flow and words (you can find the lyrics after the jump). His flow on it is just so right, so perfect, so tight. This song really touch me deep inside, it has this feeling really deep, it’s almost like if a preacher where talking, you just want to stand up, drink every words he says and say yes. It’s deep music you can danse on, it’s just perfect.

José James – Code
Download audio file (01%20code.mp3)

CODE – LYRICS
Light the words that are spoken
Light the hurts that are open
like the birds that are floating
don’t resist the need no-win

Light the way for tomorrows
Light the shame you can’t swallow
make or build take or follow
beg or steal buy or borrow

Light the place you go hoping
hope the meaning of knowing
know the meaning of coping
cope to build the day s’posin

s’pose the place you got gone +
code the building block zoning
zone the twi like you holding
hold it tight cuz we on it

this the only thing real +
this the only thing real +
makes you drop what you stealing
like your lips on my skin that

make me holler + feel it
in a way I can’t be mad
you’re unstoppable female
you’re the probable feeling

this the drop of the needle
this the top of my people
my intention is legal
my retention is lethal

bump the shit while you rolling
roll the shit ‘til the morning
morning come in it’s own way
like to live to the dawn +

Put away all the nonsense
will you stay with me darlin’
will you stay with me darlin’
show you what I have dawning

build your scream to a moan +
like the place you was born in
I’m original soil +
people call me old soul +

like the body you owning
touch ya fill you with longing
wanna do it the long way
3 o’ clock like the song say

we could stay a bit longer
we could stay a bit longer
we have everything wanted
we have everything honest

call you baby or mama
call me sugar or honey
live your life like you wanna
live your life like you want it

touch in all the right places
touchin’ on empty stages
where my memory is ageless
where desire is nameless

don’t forget who you came with
lovely beautiful Angel
just in case you was waiting
I done made all arrangements

love the rain on my face when
water teardrop I taste it
slowly slowly we ain’t in
rush or hurry or pacing

just the beauty created
just a beautiful lady
just a beautiful day to
just a moment to say this

when the night becomes day +
when your life becomes weighty

don’t forget what my name is
don’t forget what my name is
don’t forget what my name is
don’t forget what my name is
don’t forget what my name is
don’t forget what my name is
don’t forget what my name is…

I had this great news by Gilles Peterson the other day when he came djing to a Free Your Funk Party, José James is on Verve Records now! I was really happy about this news and José James just sent a email saying he was now sign on Verve Records. To be clear, José James is releasing “Blackmagic” on Brownswood on Feb 1st. I have the album and I highly recommend it! It’s soul, hip hop and a bit jazz with some good Flying Lotus‘s productions. In May, he will release what seem to be a pure Jazz album “For All We Know“, on Verve, his new label.

I wanted to share with you the news that last month I signed to Verve Records.
[...] The first album will be out around May 2010 – an album of standards in duet with pianist Jef Neve called “For All We Know,” released on the historic Impulse imprint [...].

Robert Glasper is a pianist that plays a lot with Bilal (signed now on Plug research) during his show (Also with Q-Tip or Maxwell). As they both live in New York and they went in the same jazz school, they play a lot together + often with Chris Dave on drums. I’ve seen them a lot when I was in New York and I really miss it, going to a Robert Glasper and Chris Dave show or to a Bilal show with a great band.
They were in London for the London Jazz Festival and so Gilles Peterson interviewed them, funny interview, very natural.

Bilal & Glasper in Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide show
Download audio file (59%20-gilles_with_robert_glasper___bilal.mp3)

Robert Glasper – All Matter Featuring Bilal
Download audio file (robert-glasper-all-matter.mp3)

+ Go buy Robert Glasper album, he is such a great artist.

Robert Glasper est un pianist originaire de NY qui est souvent le pianiste de Bilal lors de ses concerts + Chris Dave à la batterie. Robert Glasper joue aussi en live avec Maxwell ou Q-Tip. J’ai vu Robert Glasper très souvent à New York que ce soit pour des concerts de Jazz en trio basse, piano et batterie ou comme musicien pour Bilal. Ils étaient donc au London Jazz Festinal, Gilles Peterson en a profité pour une interview.