José James releases his first ever Christmas album Merry Christmas from José James today. In addition to the album release, José also premieres the official performance video for the original track "Christmas in New York.”

Listen here: rainbowblonde.co/merrychristmas

Listeners can find two original tracks, “Christmas in New York” and “Christmas Day” along with popular ballads such as “The Christmas Song,” “White Christmas,” “Let it Snow” and “This Christmas,” a modern twist on the Donny Hathaway holiday favorite. In James' version, he musically brings an aspect of R&B and hip-hop, rounding out the mostly jazz collection.

Songwriting for the project was spearheaded by José James and his partner, recently Grammy nominated Talia Billig. The album’s studio band features Grammy winning and nominated all stars Ben Williams (bass), Aaron Parks (piano), Jharis Yokley (drums) and Marcus Strickland (soprano saxophone). Produced by José James and Brian Bender and recorded by Ariel Shafir at Dreamland Studios, the album was mastered by Frank Arkwright at Abbey Road Studios. The session was recorded completely live on 2” tape and mixed in LCR (left-center-right) by Brian Bender at Motherbrain West.

“It’s the perfect album to put on whenever there’s a certain spirit in the air,” James says. “I hope that people can feel a little bit of the joy and the wonder, year round, that 8-year-old José felt, not only about Christmas and all the obvious things—the ornaments, the tree, the holiday season—but also the music,” he continued.

A 13 date tour to support the album will launch at SF Jazz in San Francisco on November 27th and conclude at New York’s City Winery on December 14th. Stops also include Seattle, Portland, Santa Cruz, LA, Phoenix, Santa Fe, Minneapolis and Chicago. (All tour dates listed below).

Tour Dates

November 27 – SF Jazz – San Francisco, CA
November 28 – SF Jazz – San Francisco, CA
November 30 – Jazz Alley – Seattle, WA
December 1 – Jazz Alley – Seattle, WA
December 2 – The Old Church – Portland, OR
December 4 – Kuumbwa – Santa Cruz
December 5 – Masonic Lodge – Los Angeles, CA
December 7– MIM – Phoenix, AZ
December 9 –The Lensic – Santa Fe,
December 11 – Dakota – Minneapolis, MN
December 12 – Dakota – Minneapolis, MN
December 13 – City Winery – Chicago, IL
December 14 – City Winery – New York, NY

José James will release his first ever Christmas album Merry Christmas from José James on November 19th. The contemporary album celebrates the holiday season while honoring classic jazz and pop records of the 1950s. Today James releases the first single, “My Favorite Things,” a joyful rendition of the John Coltrane staple. A 13 date tour to support the album will launch at SF Jazz in San Francisco on November 27th and conclude at New York’s City Winery on December 14th. Stops also include Seattle, Portland, Santa Cruz, LA, Phoenix, Santa Fe, Minneapolis and Chicago.

Listen to “My Favorite Things” here: rainbowblonde.co/myfavoritethings

Album cover, photo by Janette Beckman

Combining the classic jazz-crooner elegance of Frank Sinatra and Nat “King” Cole with the earthy sophistication of soul legends Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway, “Merry Christmas from José James” raises the bar for the contemporary Christmas album. Covering 10 songs - including two originals by James and his partner Talia Billig - James breathes new life into much-loved holiday classics such as The Christmas Song, White Christmas and Let it Snow. In addition to showcasing his crooner chops, the 50 Shades Darker singer explores his jazz side with a joyful rendition of John Coltrane’s “My Favorite Things.”

Accompanied by Grammy Award-winner Ben Williams (bass), Grammy nominated artists Aaron Parks (piano) and Marcus Strickland (saxophone) and rising-star Jharis Yokely (drums) “Merry Christmas from José James” is a world-class holiday experience from one of the greatest living voices in jazz.

Tour Dates

November 27 – SF Jazz – San Francisco, CA
November 28 – SF Jazz – San Francisco, CA
November 30 – Jazz Alley – Seattle, WA
December 1 – Jazz Alley – Seattle, WA
December 2 – The Old Church – Portland, OR
December 4 – Kuumbwa – Santa Cruz
December 5 – Masonic Lodge – Los Angeles, CA
December 7– MIM – Phoenix, AZ
December 9 –The Lensic – Santa Fe,
December 11 – Dakota – Minneapolis, MN
December 12 – Dakota – Minneapolis, MN
December 13 – City Winery – Chicago, IL
December 14 – City Winery – New York, NY

Taali will be releasing her appropriately titled, “When Did The World Start Ending?” March 12, 2021. Recorded live at Levon Helm Studios, the album encompasses Taali’s work in a deeply honest and vulnerable state.

Listen to the first single: rainbowblonde.co/endofworld

“When Did The World Start Ending?” is a necessary relic of a fraught time. A songwriter in the truest sense of the word, Taali confidently connects the dots between the urgency of the late 60’s/70’s folk explosion & the modern cutting-edge expression of artists like Sufjan Stevens and St. Vincent. Deeply immersive, thoughtful and poignant, Taali’s sweeping live album rises to the creative & energetic pitch of 2020, expressing both the deep pain of a city’s loss & an optimistic path forward.

Preorder on digital and CD: https://rainbowblonde.co/whendidtheworldstartendingpreorder

Tracklisting:
Live at Levon Helm Studios, Woodstock

1. Whenever You’re Ready (Live at Levon Helm Studios)
2. When Did The World Start Ending? (Live at Levon Helm Studios)
3. That Song About The Midway (Live at Levon Helm Studios)
4. Wayward Star (Live at Levon Helm Studios)
5. Champagne and Fires (Live at Levon Helm Studios)
6. Climb (Live at Levon Helm Studios)
7. To Be With You (feat. José James) (Live at Levon Helm Studios)
8. What Are You Afraid Of? (Live at Levon Helm Studios)
9. Los Angeles (Live at Levon Helm Studios)
10. Ruti (Live at Levon Helm Studios)

Recorded live at Levon Helm Studios on August 13th, 2020 by Pete Hanlon
Mixed by Brian Bender at The Motherbrain West, LA
Mastered by Frank Arkwright at Abbey Road Studios

Photos by Janette Beckman
Design by Hayden Miller

José James will be releasing his first live album on February 19th 2021. He leads with gorgeous first single “Come To My Door (Live at Levon Helm Studios),” available worldwide.

José James: New York 2020" is the first highly anticipated live album from an artist with a decade long career built on his electric live show. Despite an entire year without shows, James found a way to create & connect with audiences during the peak of Coronavirus NY lockdown. José James is known for assembling some of the best live bands in the world, & his "New York 2020" crew is no exception. Each song resonates with the creative urgency of an effervescent, resilient 2020 New York City.

Preorder: https://rainbowblonde.co/newyork2020preorder

Tracklisting:
CD 1
Live at Levon Helm Studios, Woodstock

1. Blackmagic
2. Turn Me Up
3. Come To My Door
4. I Found a Love (feat. Taali)
5. Saint James
6. Do You Feel
7. Trouble
8. Park Bench People

CD 2
Live at (Le) Poisson Rouge, NYC

1. Code
2. Save Your Love For Me
3. Blackmagic
4. Promise in Love
5. Made For Love
6. I Need Your Love
7. Park Bench People
8. Baby Don’t Cry (feat. J. Hoard)

José James - vocals
Taali - vocals
J. Hoard - vocals
Big Yuki - piano, Fender Rhodes, Hammond B-3, synth
Marcus Machado - guitar
Ben Williams - bass, vocals
Jharis Yokely - drums

Recorded live at Levon Helm Studios on August 13th, 2020 by Pete Hanlon
Recorded live at Le Poisson Rouge, NYC on October 3rd, 2020 by Jay Eigenmann
Mixed by Brian Bender at The Motherbrain West, LA
Mastered by Frank Arkwright at Abbey Road Studios

Photos by Janette Beckman
Design by Hayden Miller

Congratulations to our label boss and favorite resident songwriter Talia Billig aka Taali on her first Grammy nomination! Talia is nominated for Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals on her Becca Stevens collaboration “Slow Burn.” Listen to more Talia songs here: https://rainbowblonde.co/taali

José James' No Beginning No End 2 out worldwide: https://rainbowblonde.co/nobeginningnoend2 Rainbow Blonde: In The Lab Is an in-depth discussion with the art...

Ben Williams' I Am A Man out worldwide: https://rainbowblonde.co/iamaman Rainbow Blonde: In The Lab Is an in-depth discussion with the artists and creators b...

Rainbow Blonde Records proudly joins the YouTube community with an exclusive channel featuring artist interviews, behind the scenes footage and music from José James, Taali, Ben Williams and Bright & Guilty. 

Subscribe here: www.youtube.com/rainbowblonderecords

“In The Lab,” the channel’s first series, offers an in-depth look at the creative process of songwriting, recording and mixing. Filmed by collective member Joseph DiGiovanna in Brooklyn at Electric Garden Studios, the series features conversations with studio owner and engineer Ben Kane, producer Brian Bender, engineer Jaclyn Sanchez, Ben Williams and José James.

Rainbow Blonde Records proudly announces the special edition vinyl and digital release of José James’ iconic second album “Blackmagic,” out worldwide today.

Available for digital and 180 gram vinyl purchase here: rainbowblonde.co/blackmagic10

Limited edition 180 gram neon pink vinyl also available through VinylMePlease.

Featuring lo-fi hip-hop production from legendary producers Flying Lotus, Moodymann and Taylor McFerrin, Blackmagic saw James embracing his role as “the Jazz singer for the hip-hop generation.” Highlights include the Soulquarian meets Curtis Mayfield vibe of “Code,” the Moodymann-produced Marvin Gaye tribute “Detroit Loveletter” and the spaced out jazz meets hip-hop of “Blackmagic.” Across 13 songs James throws down the gauntlet and takes a soulful journey into the history of Black music, skillfully connecting the dots between soul, R&B hip-hop and London’s brokenbeat and dubstep movements. The 10th Anniversary Edition also includes four new live tracks recorded at Brooklyn Recording with an all star band.

Double pocket gatefold LP jacket includes all new photography by Hassan Hajjaj.

In a world of increasing uncertainty, Rainbow Blonde is proud to move with the times. Join us on August 13th as we present livestream concerts by Taali and José James live from the legendary Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY. This special live multi-camera performance will be filmed by the award winning Framework Productions and styled by Art Comes First ©️.

Tickets available here: https://noonchorus.com/jose-taali/

9pm Taali // solo set - EP release of “Were You Busy Writing Your Heart Out?” 
Taali - vocals, keys 

9:45pm José James // live band set - LP release of “No Beginning No End 2”
José James - vocals
Taali - vocals
Marcus Machado - guitar
Big Yuki - keys
Ben Williams - bass + vocals
Jharis Yokley - drums

August 13th | 9pm EDT | 9pm BST | 9pm JST

Rainbow Blonde Records is proud to present “Mentals Month,” beginning with No Beginning No End 2: Mentals, the full instrumental album of José James’ return to form.

Each Friday of July, Rainbow Blonde will release a full album of instrumentals, showcasing the innovative and groundbreaking RB sound.

From the genre bending jazz meets post neosoul of Ben Williams and José James to the cutting edge synthpop of Taali and Bright & Guilty, July will be an opportunity to highlight the rich instruments, production, musicians and sound too often relegated to the background.

July 3: José James, No Beginning No End 2: Mentals (out today and available worldwide here): https://rainbowblonde.co/nbne2mentals
July 10: Ben Williams, I Am A Man: Mentals
July 17: Taali, I Am Here: Mentals
July 24: Bright & Guilty, B&G: Mentals

“This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal.”

-Toni Morrison

According to the Washington Post’s database tracking police shootings 1,265 Black people have been killed by police since Jan 1, 2015. Many others have died at the hands of civilians. Say their names: Trayvon Martin, Sandra Bland, Mike Brown, Eric Garner, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and so many more.

Originally intended for Ava DuVernay’s acclaimed drama “When They See Us,” today we release this music in solidarity with the families, activists, protesters and communities actively working to end police brutality and systemic racism against the Black community. 

Listen here: rainbowblonde.co/whentheyseeus
Watch official video here: https://youtu.be/Nm743DPJXpQ

100% of all sales and streams from the track will be donated to Black Visions Collective MN.

Donate directly here: https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/

For more information on how to support #BlackLivesMatter https://blacklivesmatter.com/

Written by José James + Talia Billig
Produced by Brian Bender 
José James - vocals
Taali - vocals + piano
Recorded by Nolan Thies at The Bunker BK 
Photos by Janette Beckman

Prolific singer, composer and producer Taali releases her EP “Were You Busy Writing Your Heart Out?” today on Rainbow Blonde Records. Her newest work examines the complex dynamic of female friendship, including its potential and deeply painful dissolution. It follows 2019’s EP Were Most of Your Stars Out?, an acoustic collection filled with unparalleled honesty, expressive lyricism and vulnerable fragility. The titles both borrow from Salingers' "Seymour an Introduction," to complete a quoted phrase that informs Taali's entire creative life: "Were most of your stars out? Were you busy writing your heart out?"

Listen / Buy here: https://rainbowblonde.lnk.to/heartout

After a long hiatus, The 1+2+3+4 Podcast kicks off its second season with three time Grammy nominated trumpeter and composer Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah. In this episode, he and José James discuss Christian’s new album Ancestral Recall, creating Stretch Music and the future of jazz.

Taali releases her haunting new single “Kol Haolam Kulo” today on Rainbow Blonde Records. Amidst a climate of fear, uncertainty and increasing worldwide Antisemitism, “Kol Haolam Kulo” is a much needed rallying cry. Taali interprets the two line prayer with an appropriately sparse arrangement of simply juno synth and vocals.

Her voice ascends, as she sings its pertinent message:

The whole world is a very narrow bridge // And the main thing is to have no fear at all.
כל העולם כלו
גשר צר מאד
והעקר לא לפחד כלל

Out worldwide. Listen/buy here: https://rainbowblonde.lnk.to/kolhaolamkulo

In the midst of global tumult, Taali shares a timely cover of Jackson Browne's “These Days” today. Debuted on Brightest Young Things, it features beautiful celestial vocals & live intertwined synthesizers à la Imogen Heap. Taali explains the track:

“As a songwriter, "These Days" is hallowed ground. It is dangerously close to (if not included in!) that list of songs you're not allowed to cover. Right up there with Aretha's "R-E-S-P-E-C-T," Prince's "Purple Rain," The Beatles' "Let It Be," etc. Though it has been covered to death, Nico's version of the song grabbed me first. I remember hearing it at 15 years old. Her subtle, enigmatically emotional delivery spoke to my soul. 

15 years later, with a litany of my own experience to finally sing to, I played this song live at Joe's Pub in NYC, and knew immediately that it had to be a release on our label. I wrote a synthesizer line and choral interlude instead of using Nico's iconic guitar part. I tried to honor Jackson Browne's spirit of repetition, resignation, and understanding in the hollow arrangement. And I think it's the closest I've come to objective musical truth. I really don't do that much talking these days. I "wonder," constantly, "If I'll see another highway." I have no idea how Jackson Browne got that sentiment so right at 16 years old, but he deserves all the medals for it. I have now lived inside and outside of the song, and couldn't not cover it. I'm grateful to have it both to listen to and to sing ... a modern day musician's prayer.”

Taali’s cover follows soaring first single "What Are You Afraid Of?" off her Were You Busy Writing Your Heart Out? EP, coming May 15 on Rainbow Blonde Records -- a label and worldwide collective the artist runs with creative partner R&B/jazz vocalist José James and engineer/producer Brian Bender. She’ll also be opening for José James on tour this summer - dates below & here.

Tour Dates

5/7: Evanston, IL @ SPACE*

6/23: New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom*

6/25: Washington, DC @ The Hamilton Live*

*w/ José James

You waited.

It’s here.

Not much else we need to say.

Available worldwide.

Digital
Physical

"Nobody Knows My Name" (ft. Laura Mvula) is José James’ exploration of identity and fame in today’s Trump America and post-Brexit UK. He explains, “What does it mean to be a Black artist now? Musically we’re paying homage to Abbey Lincoln, Nina Simone, Max Roach and Charles Mingus.” Premiered on BrooklynVegan, this is the final single from James’ future soul album No Beginning No End 2, out this Friday, March 6.

The project also features Aloe Blacc (“Turn Me Up ”), Ledisi & Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah (“I Need Your Love”), Lizz Wright, Erik Truffaz, Hindi Zahra and Taali, who will be joining James for a few dates on his Independence Tour, celebrating artistic freedom from genres, labels and boundaries - tickets here & dates below.

Listen / Share: "Nobody Knows My Name"

(ft. Laura Mvula and Kris Bowers) 

The Independence Tour is José James' live celebration of over a decade of making music worldwide. From his early discovery by Gilles Peterson in London to his major label debut with Blue Note Records, José has produced and written 8 albums covering the best of jazz, pop, hip-hop and R&B. Now signed to his own Rainbow Blonde Records, James is taking his music to new heights of expression with his 9th studio album No Beginning No End 2. "This is a celebration of my artistic freedom and I want to invite the world," James said. "I've spent my entire career searching for a way to express what I love about music. This is Minneapolis Funk and me growing up as a child of the hip-hop generation. And it's a tribute to the Jazz greats who weren't able to own their own masters - Miles Davis, Nat Cole, Billie Holiday and John Coltrane.”

Prolific chamber-pop singer/songwriter Taali today shares a soaring new single confronting fears and weakness, "What Are You Afraid Of?" It’s off her newly announced Were You Busy Writing Your Heart Out? EP coming May 15 on Rainbow Blonde Records. She’ll also be opening for José James on tour next month - dates below & here. 

Listen / Share: "What Are You Afraid Of?"

This new EP examines the complex dynamic of female friendship, including its potential and deeply painful dissolution. It follows 2019’s EP Were Most of Your Stars Out?, an acoustic collection filled with unparalleled honesty, expressive lyricism and vulnerable fragility. The titles of both EPs borrow from J.D. Salinger's "Seymour an Introduction," to complete a quoted phrase that informs Taali's entire creative life: "Were most of your stars out? Were you busy writing your heart out?"

José James today shares his tender cover of a Billy Joel classic for Valentine’s Day, "Just The Way You Are” via Earmilk. The single’s art pays homage to Joel's 52nd Street record cover and comes ahead of James’ imminent future soul album, No Beginning No End 2. Releasing March 6 on his own label Rainbow Blonde Records, the project also features the talents of Aloe Blacc (from previous single “Turn Me Up”), Ledisi & Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah (from first single “I Need Your Love”), Laura Mvula, Lizz Wright, Erik Truffaz, Hindi Zahra, Taali and more. James is celebrating the release with an international tour this year, as well - tour dates below.