Mentored by 6-time GRAMMY® winner and blues guitar legend Stevie Ray Vaughan, bluesman Colin James’ own career is becoming legendary via his 8-Juno Award wins (Canada’s GRAMMY® equivalent), 30 Maple Blues Awards, multi-platinum record sales, and being inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame. Yet what is missing from this prodigiously gifted guitarist’s career is a GRAMMY® nomination. His latest album, “Chasing The Sun,” which was released in August, is up for consideration as Best Contemporary Blues Album and the opening track, “Protection,” a duet with three-time GRAMMY® winner Lucinda Williams, is in the running for Best Americana Performance.
James wrote seven new songs for “Chasing The Sun,” his 21st studio collection that he produced with his life-long friend, Colin Linden (T-Bone Burnett, Keb’ Mo’, Bruce Cockburn). The setlist is completed by four reimagined covers, including “Protection,” a tune penned by Williams.
The ensemble of musicians who accompanied James on “Chasing The Sun” is the calibre embraced by GRAMMY® voters. GRAMMY winner Charlie Musselwhite plies his celebrated blues harmonica to “Devilment” and “Come to Find Out.” Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Reese Wynans (Stevie Ray Vaughan, Joe Bonamassa) illumines “I’m Still Alive” with his keyboard artistry. GRAMMY® nominated singer-songwriter Ruby Amanfu (H.E.R., Alicia Keys & Brandi Carlile, Jack White) graces “Too Far Gone” and “This Song Kills Hate.” The rhythm section of drummer Charley Drayton (Neil Young, Paul Simon, Johnny Cash) and The Rolling Stones’ bassist Darryl Jones (Sting) anchor the grooves throughout the album, a tandem that has a shared history of playing with The Stones and with 8-time GRAMMY-winning jazz icon Miles Davis. Adding their celestial touch and soul-powered voices to “Protection,” “I’m Still Alive,” and “Open Your Mind” are gospel great’s Anne and Regina McCrary aka The McCrary Sisters.
The James and Williams collab of her 2014 song “Protection” merits a close listen and look from GRAMMY® voters. Relix premiered the video for the single last week, which can be seen at https://relix.com/blogs/video_premieres/detail/video-premiere-colin-jam….
“Lucinda Williams is such a revered songwriter, such a legend. But she’s so nice. And hearing our voices together on tape was such a pleasure,” said the Vancouver-based James who recorded the album in Linden’s Nashville studio.
Over the 45 years that James has played professionally, he has assembled a remarkable resume of performances and recordings with GRAMMY® winners, seminal artists, and chart-toppers including Bonnie Raitt, Albert Collins, Robert Cray, Albert King, Keith Richards, Lenny Kravitz, ZZ Top, Mavis Staples, The Chieftains, Carlos Santana, Little Feat, and Jeff Healey. In 2022, James toured with GRAMMY® winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame blues guitarist Buddy Guy.
James loves what he’s doing and is grateful for his longevity in music at such a prestigious level. He considers that an award in and of itself. However, receiving his first GRAMMY® nomination would mean a lot to him at this point in his career.
“After playing professionally for 45 years and releasing 21 full-length recordings over numerous labels and an ever-changing landscape, a GRAMMY® nomination would be a validation to reflect the years of hard work, dedication, and passion that I still feel for music and recording.”
For more information, visit https://colinjames.com.
