On her most open and vulnerable recording to date, James reveals her heart and soul with each lyric.

From Le Coq Records, the label that James co-founded with her husband, producer, and co-songwriter Piero Pata, Let Me See Your Heart is graced by the ever-expanding stable of stellar musicians that the imprint has become known for. The all-star ensemble for this date includes percussionist Alex Acuña, bassists John Patitucci, James Genus and Eric Wheeler, pianist Jon Cowherd, keyboardist John Beasley, organist Ronnie Foster, trumpeter Terell Stafford, saxophonists Joel Frahm and John Ellis, flutist Bob Sheppard, trombonist Michael Dease, guitarists Chico Pinheiro, Steve Cardenas, Larry Koonse and Paul Jackson Jr., and drummers Nate Smith, Clarence Penn, Rudy Royston and Johnathan Blake, with arrangements provided by Cowherd and Bill Cunliffe.

The line-up of musicians who breathe life into this music - in the process, showing us their own individual and collective hearts - comprises a who's who of modern jazz greats. They have also become near and dear to the hearts of James and Pata, and integral to the unified and brilliant sound of Le Coq Records.

'The musicians we've assembled at Le Coq over the years have really become sort of a family,' James says. 'They understand what I want when I compose, to the point that it's become instinctual.'

The album opens with a funky twist on the Dave Brubeck classic 'Take Five,'penned by Paul Desmond with lyrics by Carmen McRae, its famous 5/4 tempo given a sleek contouring reminiscent of Steely Dan. Despite the set's introspective themes, James made sure to include several more upbeat numbers to showcase the breadth of her influences as well as the many shapes that these feelings of love and loss can assume.

'I gave careful consideration to the more uptempo songs on the album,' she explains. 'I felt the record needed those numbers because I found it oh, so very tempting to just compile beautiful, somber songs to stick to my melancholy sentiments.'

Media

Track Listing

• Take Five
• Bali Hai
• Photograph
• New York State of Mind
• For Every Man There’s a Women
• All Or Nothing At All
• Danny Boy
• Let Me See Your Heart
• Lets Try
• I Was Born In Love With You
• Lets Talk Of Love
• I Will Say Goodbye

Additional Details

Label: Le Coq Records

Genre: Jazz

Run Time: 60:52 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 07/05/24

UPC: 808391227460