25 Mar Live Review: José James at Jazz Café, London (19th March, 2010)

With a full a black suit, a seriously seductive smile and a touch too much charm in his swagger, Minneapolis-born jazzy singer/songwriter José James looked more like he was about to go an expensive date than perform at London’s Jazz Café on Friday night. That said, with tickets going for £20 on the door, perhaps to the crowd it was an expensive date. Either that or this particular audience just happen to be unreasonably difficult to please. As Mr James licks his lips, looks down at the microphone, and then picks it up as if it were his women, the crowd barely responds. And even when he starts to sing one of the better songs on his recent album ‘Lay You Down’ there is still little reaction. It is a sparkling rendition too, free of ego and full of romance. The bass sumptuously straddling out of the speakers, while warm notes emerge from the keyboard, both playfully and almost prayerfully. To this the audience heats up a little while James continues to look confident and sing as if he could quite easily walk on water.