“I actually started the whole project some years ago with a live debut at Ancienne Belgique in Brussels. The focus was mainly on my favorite period of Billie Holiday, which was the late-50s Verve recordings, with essentially a small version of the Count Basie band.” YearsWholeFocusPeriodsBandProjectsLateYears AgoMy FavoriteVersionsHolidayDebutBrussels Author:Jose James
“I go by the "Miles Davis school of production and band-leading", where you pick the best musicians you can, you provide them with a minimum of direction, and you just let the music happen. I've seen it work time and time again.” HappensSchoolBandMusicianPicksProductionsMilesMinimum Author:Jose James
“Once I had the band, Jason [Moran] and John [Patitucci] and Eric [Harland] - it's very exciting to have that trio of just world-class guys - I already knew it was going to be fantastic. I didn't really tell them anything about it. They didn't know what they were going to play beforehand.” KnowsWorldPlayGuyClassBandExcitingFantasticJasonEricWorld ClassTrios Author:Jose James