James Day New Album Song, Soul & Spirit releases May 29th.
Not since Quincy Jones‘ Back on the Block have we seen such a line up of soul and jazz all stars. Every song a musical event.
The first single Speak Love boasts R&B veterans Glenn Jones, Tony Terry & Tim Owens with jazz chart toppers U-Nam & Lin Rountree.
Check out Speak Love below:
Love is my Bible unites 3 of Chaka Khan‘s most beloved background singers. Sandra St Victor, Audrey Wheeler-Downing & Karen Bernod sing on a Motown-influenced hit featuring smooth jazz favorites, Groove LTD.
Like Jones, Day reaches beyond the scope of R&B in his writing, producing, and selection of performers. Titled SONG, SOUL & SPIRIT, the album opens with Battlegrounds, a social anthem that has already had an impact at radio with it’s gospel choir finale. Film & music star Cheryl Pepsii Riley makes a guest appearance. Another highlight is the pairing of Tony-nominated Elisabeth Withers (Suge Avery from the musical Color Purple) w/ seasoned jazz saxophonist Walter Beasley. Day places them on the inspirational ballad, Stand on my Shoulders. This is a song he wrote with Grammy-winning songwriter/producer Preston Glass.
Day had the opportunity to write with another of his Grammy-winning songwriting heros, Gordon Chambers, on the motivational ballad Forgiveness, pairing Chambers with another unexpected choice, Grammy-winning Paula Cole, best known for her #1 hit and Dawson’s Creek anthem, I Don’t Want to Wait, as well as her jazz duets album with Chris Botti.
Throughout the album, Day surrounds his esteemed leading artists with a cast of musicians who have backed musical legends & game changers like Barbara Streisand, Barry Manilow, Erica Badu and Kindred & the Family Soul.
To close this monumental feat, Day returns to two of his favorite collaborations of all time. A remix of his smash We Dance featuring SoulTrain Award winner Maysa. Also, Dreamland, a lullaby with 5X consecutive Grammy-winner Lalah Hathaway. Of Day‘s writing, Hathaway says: “James is one of the most beautiful, visual songwriters I know, his lyrics fit me like a glove.”
James Day New Album Song, Soul & Spirit
