Biography
Born in the United States and raised near Washington, DC, James first performed on guitar in rock groups before expanding into traditional blues. A lasting fascination with African sounds prompted him to craft a distinctive approach that merges blues phrasing with present-day African styles. Working from his California home, he has toured extensively across the USA while making repeated trips to Africa, above all Mali, since 1994, where he appears as both musician and record producer. His projects regularly feature musicians grounded in Wassoulou and Sonrai traditions. Among the artists he has joined in the USA and Africa are Solo Sidibe, Hamma Sankare, Hassi Sare, Massamba Diop, and the group Wassonrai, which includes Mamadou Sidibe and Amadou Camara.
Alongside his fellow players, James handles several indigenous instruments such as the kameme n’goni, a harp-like instrument, the njarka, akin to a violin, the calabash, and the bolon, whose strings produce a resonant bass tone. Vocals are delivered in English, Bambara, and Sonrai.
Alongside his fellow players, James handles several indigenous instruments such as the kameme n’goni, a harp-like instrument, the njarka, akin to a violin, the calabash, and the bolon, whose strings produce a resonant bass tone. Vocals are delivered in English, Bambara, and Sonrai.
Albums
