James Francies (born 1995) is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist, composer, and arranger. He grew up in Houston but moved to New York to continue his musical studies. Following performances and recordings with various musicians, his first album as leader was released by Blue Note Records in 2018.
Francies was born in Houston in 1995,[1] and grew up in South Park – what he called an "iffy" area of the city.[2][3] He began having piano lessons at the age of five, and learning about jazz at junior high school.[1] He went on to attend the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston.[2] He played at the church that his parents attended, and formed a jazz trio at the age of 14 that performed for three years.[2]
At high school, Francies was awarded a series of jazz scholarships to aid his musical development.[1] These helped him obtain a full scholarship to study at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York.[1]
Later life and career
While still a student in New York, Francies became a regular in drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts's band.[1] He played piano on one track for Watts's album Blue, Vol. 1 around 2015.[4] Performances and tours with other leaders, including saxophonist Chris Potter and guitarist Pat Metheny, followed.[1] Francies came to the attention of Questlove, who used him as a stand-in for his regular keyboardist, including for television appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[1] Francies roomed with pianist Aaron Parks for three years from 2015.[5] Around 2016, he played on Watts's Blue, Vol. 2,[6] Jaimeo Brown's Work Songs,[7]Marcus Strickland's Nihil Novi,[8] and Chance the Rapper's "No Problem".[2][3] Francies is also part of vibraphonist Stefon Harris's Blackout, and played on that band's Sonic Creed album.[9]
Francies's debut recording as leader came after he signed for Blue Note Records.[2] The album Flight was released in 2018.[1] All but one of the eleven tracks were written or co-written by Francies; among the other musicians who appeared on the album were bassist Burniss Travis II and drummer Jeremy Dutton, from Francies's band Kinetic.[2] In the same year, Francies was part of vocalist José James's band that played at the Monterey Jazz Festival.[10] Francies won the "Rising Star Keyboards" award in DownBeat magazine's 2022 critics' poll.[11]
Playing and composing style
A reviewer of Flight commented on Francies's "explosive keyboard style, which makes up for what it lacks in thematic development with dazzling fast runs, nuanced textures and unpredictable turns".[12]
Francies has sound-to-color synesthesia.[13] For one of his compositions, "Leaps", he reported that "I literally visualized the song's melodic jumps. I took some musical shapes inside my head and thought about what they would look like in the physical world."[13]
With Burniss Travis II (bass), Jeremy Dutton (drums); Mike Moreno (guitar) on four tracks; Joel Ross (vibraphone) on four tracks; Chris Potter (tenor sax) on three tracks; Mike Mitchell (drums) on one track; YEBBA, Chris Turner, and Kate Kelsey-Sugg (vocals) on one track each[14]
With Burniss Travis II (bass), Jeremy Dutton (drums); guests Immanuel Wilkins (alto sax), Joel Ross (vibraphone), Mike Moreno (guitar), Peyton, Elliott Skinner, and Bilal (vocals)[15]
^Ouellette, Dan (December 2018). "Highly Charged: Monterey Jazz Festival". DownBeat. Vol. 85, no. 12. p. 14.
^"70th Annual Critics Poll: Complete Results". DownBeat. Vol. 89, no. 8. August 2022. p. 48.
^Greenland, Tom (November 2018). "Flight: James Francies (Blue Note)". The New York City Jazz Record. No. 199. p. 18.
^ abMurph, John (January 2, 2019). "James Francies: Cleared for Takeoff". JazzTimes.
^"Flight (2018)". bluenote.com. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
^"Purist Form (2021)". bluenote.com. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
^"Circuits". chrispotterjazz.bandcamp.com. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
April 29, 2023
james, francies, born, 1995, american, jazz, pianist, keyboardist, composer, arranger, grew, houston, moved, york, continue, musical, studies, following, performances, recordings, with, various, musicians, first, album, leader, released, blue, note, records, 2. James Francies born 1995 is an American jazz pianist keyboardist composer and arranger He grew up in Houston but moved to New York to continue his musical studies Following performances and recordings with various musicians his first album as leader was released by Blue Note Records in 2018 James FranciesBorn1995Houston Texas USGenresJazzOccupation s Musician composer arrangerInstrument s Piano keyboardsLabelsBlue NoteWebsitejamesfranciesmusic wbr com Contents 1 Early life 2 Later life and career 3 Playing and composing style 4 Discography 4 1 As leader 4 2 As sideman 5 ReferencesEarly life EditFrancies was born in Houston in 1995 1 and grew up in South Park what he called an iffy area of the city 2 3 He began having piano lessons at the age of five and learning about jazz at junior high school 1 He went on to attend the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston 2 He played at the church that his parents attended and formed a jazz trio at the age of 14 that performed for three years 2 At high school Francies was awarded a series of jazz scholarships to aid his musical development 1 These helped him obtain a full scholarship to study at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York 1 Later life and career EditWhile still a student in New York Francies became a regular in drummer Jeff Tain Watts s band 1 He played piano on one track for Watts s album Blue Vol 1 around 2015 4 Performances and tours with other leaders including saxophonist Chris Potter and guitarist Pat Metheny followed 1 Francies came to the attention of Questlove who used him as a stand in for his regular keyboardist including for television appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon 1 Francies roomed with pianist Aaron Parks for three years from 2015 5 Around 2016 he played on Watts s Blue Vol 2 6 Jaimeo Brown s Work Songs 7 Marcus Strickland s Nihil Novi 8 and Chance the Rapper s No Problem 2 3 Francies is also part of vibraphonist Stefon Harris s Blackout and played on that band s Sonic Creed album 9 Francies s debut recording as leader came after he signed for Blue Note Records 2 The album Flight was released in 2018 1 All but one of the eleven tracks were written or co written by Francies among the other musicians who appeared on the album were bassist Burniss Travis II and drummer Jeremy Dutton from Francies s band Kinetic 2 In the same year Francies was part of vocalist Jose James s band that played at the Monterey Jazz Festival 10 Francies won the Rising Star Keyboards award in DownBeat magazine s 2022 critics poll 11 Playing and composing style EditA reviewer of Flight commented on Francies s explosive keyboard style which makes up for what it lacks in thematic development with dazzling fast runs nuanced textures and unpredictable turns 12 Francies has sound to color synesthesia 13 For one of his compositions Leaps he reported that I literally visualized the song s melodic jumps I took some musical shapes inside my head and thought about what they would look like in the physical world 13 Discography EditAs leader Edit Year recorded Title Label Personnel Notes2018 Flight Blue Note With Burniss Travis II bass Jeremy Dutton drums Mike Moreno guitar on four tracks Joel Ross vibraphone on four tracks Chris Potter tenor sax on three tracks Mike Mitchell drums on one track YEBBA Chris Turner and Kate Kelsey Sugg vocals on one track each 14 2021 Purest Form Blue Note With Burniss Travis II bass Jeremy Dutton drums guests Immanuel Wilkins alto sax Joel Ross vibraphone Mike Moreno guitar Peyton Elliott Skinner and Bilal vocals 15 As sideman Edit Year recorded Leader Title Label2015 Jeff Tain Watts Blue Vol 1 Dark Key2016 Jaimeo Brown Work Songs Motema2016 Marcus Strickland Nihil Novi Blue Note2016 Chance the Rapper Coloring Book Self released 2016 Jeff Tain Watts Blue Vol 2 Dark Key2017 Chris Potter Circuits Edition 16 2018 Stefon Harris Sonic Creed Motema2020 Chris Potter Sunrise Reprise Edition2021 Pat Metheny Side Eye NYC V1 IV Modern RecordingsReferences Edit a b c d e f g h Jurek Thom James Francies AllMusic Retrieved December 15 2018 a b c d e f Panken Ted November 2018 Empathy amp Authenticity DownBeat Vol 85 no 11 p 26 a b Dansby Andrew November 2 2018 James Francies Takes Flight as Latest HSPVA Jazz Star Houston Chronicle Macnie Jim October 2015 Jeff Tain Watts Blue Vol 1 DownBeat Vol 82 no 10 p 48 Panken Ted November 2018 Intuitive Leadership DownBeat Vol 85 no 11 p 42 Holmes Terrell May 2017 Blue Vol 2 Jeff Tain Watts Dark Key Music The New York City Jazz Record No 181 p 18 Murph John March 2016 Jaimeo Brown Transcendence Work Songs DownBeat Vol 83 no 3 p 54 Micallef Ken June 2016 Black American Music Is for Everyone DownBeat Vol 83 no 6 p 46 Lutz Phillip November 2018 Nurturing Spirit DownBeat Vol 85 no 11 p 32 Ouellette Dan December 2018 Highly Charged Monterey Jazz Festival DownBeat Vol 85 no 12 p 14 70th Annual Critics Poll Complete Results DownBeat Vol 89 no 8 August 2022 p 48 Greenland Tom November 2018 Flight James Francies Blue Note The New York City Jazz Record No 199 p 18 a b Murph John January 2 2019 James Francies Cleared for Takeoff JazzTimes Flight 2018 bluenote com Retrieved December 15 2018 Purist Form 2021 bluenote com Retrieved September 17 2021 Circuits chrispotterjazz bandcamp com Retrieved March 17 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Francies amp oldid 1105706558, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
