José James' new album On & On, doesn't immediately give away what it is. For the first minute and forty five seconds of the title track opener, you are greeted with sweeping keys, multiple saxophone lines, a roaming bass, and lots of cymbal work on the drums. If you think you are about to set off on a free-jazz odyssey, the familiar piano chords that follow will instead clue you in to the nature of the album. Paying tribute to the "Queen of Neo Soul" Erykah Badu, who released 'On & On' in 1996 as the lead single from her debut album Baduizm
José James and his band use funk, soul, hip/hop and jazz to highlight seven songs from the Badu songbook. Their "Didn't Cha Know" keeps the original bassline, while Ebban Dorsey's clean alto sax sets the stage for some wonderful phrasing from James. Dorsey, and another saxophonist/flautist Diana Dzhabbar, are two rising jazz stars that feature heavily on the album. "Gone Baby, Don't Be Long" is given the funk treatment, and will have your head bobbing from start to finish.
This is the third album James has released in tribute to his musical heroes. In 2015 it was Billie Holiday. In 2018, Bill Withers. Listening to On & On it is clear why Erykah Badu was his next choice. You can hear songs from the album all week on KAXE.
