Diandra Reviews It All

José James’ Bowery Ballroom concert was filled with so many details to appreciate. He truly used the concert to elaborate that he is a man of many talents and thoughts. Celebrating his most recent release, Love In A Time Of Madness, viewers had an opportunity to witness the many meanings of love to both James and all of us.

When we think of love, we usually associate it as a term for relationships. Here at Diandra Reviews, I try to expand, at least, that relationships are the energy transfers we give and receive from other persons, places, and things. I say this because, like for James, I believe love is the epicenter of the world, but it can come in more forms than commonly defined. As James progressed in his concert, you witnessed his views on love or rather its lack in this world. He revealed Love In A Time of Madness was more than a personal, sonic diary of relationships; it was also a deeply intimate look into how rejected he felt as a black man and human being through the rise of Trump’s presidency. Penning the album during the campaign, the singer is very open about his motivations between each song like, “Let It Fall”, ” Live Your Fantasy”, and “Always There”. Each track held themes of remembrance, revival, and resignation, which are all basic, human struggles that only James could put to jazz so freshly.

José James – Always There

Always There

Love In A Time of Madness is James most brazen nose-dive into the jazz world, and the singer was unfazed in citing his disappointment and dismissal of jazz “purists” critique of his enthusiasm. I was shocked that anyone could not appreciate or hear the BLATANT jazz influences and dreams that inspired James. “What Good Is Love “, “Breakthrough”, and “Ladies Man” bring forth classic jazz stylings of seduction and starriness, which are definitely two styles to describe James’s approach to the audience. He talks and looks upon spectators as if they were sitting at the bar, lonely, and he was a charming man ready to give them good conversation and, hopefully, a good memory. In addition, legendary drummer Nate Smith was their to riff through the night with drumrolls that could elevate an earthbound spirit to Heaven. As James rapped, remixed, and covered Dead Prez, the blend of Smith’s battalion drumming and Prez’s artful lyrics against mass incarceration, police brutality, and poverty struck viewers minds like dumbbells. It only added to the tension and urgency that James had cooed into his songs, but truly wanted to amp into his audience’s hearts. We are living in maddening times, and you have to wonder if the rise in madness is a reaction to the rise of love through the years or the decline of it?

José James – To Be With You

To Be With You

Sometimes, things happen with no prompt and, other times, they do. The hate of 2017 could be because love grew more powerful over 2016 or love’s denial through the years manifested into hate getting power. James’ concert was a surprising place to contemplate the insanity of living in 2017. To think, last year, we were celebrating LGBT’s right to marriage, and today we have president that, literally, wants to deny their access to health. Crazy? Yet, James is a smooth, high register voice to sing you into thinking upon these societal nuances without fear. His vocals are champagne bubbles fuzzing and fizzing through the air to offer you both luxury and a luscious night of personal thoughts. For More Information on José James’ Click Here.