After touring in cities ranging from NYC to Tokyo, jazz guitarist and singer José James will be finishing off his On & On Tour at The Ford on Saturday, Aug. 26. James, alongside an equally talented band, will be performing his most recent album, On & On, a seven-song collection of covers dedicated to Erykah Badu that reaffirm his classification as a jazz singer before anything else. Tickets ranging from $38 to $58 are on sale now, with doors opening at 6:30 PM and the show starting at 8 PM.
Stay tuned to our Instagram for an upcoming ticket giveaway to see José James at The Ford.
Though a nod to the timeless Badu single off her debut album, Baduizm, On & On also doubles as an accurate assessment of James’ proficient output, having released a staggering 11 studio albums as of 2023 and frequently performing live across the world. Similar to contemporaries like Robert Glasper, his distinct brand of jazz music is cemented in multiple genres, such as soul, funk, and rock, molded in the shape of hip-hop. His work has so far led to several awards, including an Edison Award and L’Académie du Jazz Grand Prix, to cement him high up when considering modern artists keeping jazz alive.
Whether or not he was born in the wrong generation, James makes the most out of the modern day by occupying a unique space in hip-hop that allows a genre as old as jazz to persevere. When explaining why he chose to cover Badu’s material, he said, “Erykah Badu has been one of the most innovative and incisive songwriters. Her work has proven to be groundbreaking in a social, musical and artistic sense…It only made sense to include the next generation.”
Cool Gifts for Music Lovers
The best concert earplugs to protect your hearing
This guitar is adorable! Aspiring musician?
Style & Function: Impress friends at your next party
José James and his band will be performing the last show of their On & On Tour at The Ford on Saturday, Aug. 26, with doors open at 6:30 PM and howtime at 8 PM. Tickets are still available for as low as $38.
The Ford also has a wide variety of shows in August and September, not limited to music performances. On Aug. 12, the Bob Baker Marionette Theater will perform It’s a Musical World — fun for the whole family. Going into September, 60s Brazilian rock band Os Mutantes perform on Sept. 3, dance company Viver Brasil celebrates Samba music with an interactive show on Sept. 17, and Street Food Cinema presents a screening of the 1997 Selena film with music performances on Sept. 23. All shows have tickets available now.
Words: David Sosa
This post may contain affiliate links. Ads and affiliate links are how independent blogs like Grimy Goods can operate. Thank you for supporting our work and being a part of our music community.
