In honor of James’s Grammy-nominated album (Best Traditional Pop Vocal), James is launching the American Standard covers challenge!
It’s easy to take part — just film your cover of one of the favorites found on the American Standard or Over The Rainbow and send them to James here. You may be featured in an upcoming newsletter or on any of James’s socials platforms (be sure to include your social media links or tags!)
The official new song video, “You’ve Got To Be Carefully Taught”, taken from the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, South Pacific. Click now to watch!
“You’ve Got To Be Carefully Taught” is available on James’s 2020 album American Standard, and don’t forget to check out James’s new 3-song digital EP, Over The Rainbow!
Fresh off his Grammy nomination for American Standard, James spoke to Entertainment Weekly about his musical memories, his history with the Grammys, and more.
Don’t forget! All JT ‘Wear Your Music’ items — pendants, bracelets and more crafted from James’s personally used guitar strings — will be 20% off for one day only, next Tuesday, December 1! Visit WearYourMusic.com to check out the selection now.
James received some exciting pre-Thanksgiving Grammy news this morning — American Standard has been nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album! This is James’s 19th career nomination (he’s won five times previously). James is grateful for the recognition and will keep a finger or two crossed. Kudos as well to James’s friends and co-producers, Dave O’Donnell and John Pizzarelli!
James extends his congratulations to the fantastic Steep Canyon Rangers, who were nominated in the Best Bluegrass Album category for their album North Carolina Songbook, which includes their cover of “Sweet Baby James“. Good luck, fellas!
Just in time for Thanksgiving, James has shared a surprise new 3-song digital release!
I’m so glad these three songs are getting a general release. We cut more songs than would fit on the album, ‘American Standard’, which made the promotional department happy. They find uses for the extra tracks, usually as “exclusive” material for the big box retailers. But I’ve regretted not giving these three pieces the exposure I think they deserve. My solo guitar version of “Over the Rainbow” has two points worth mentioning: first it keeps Yip Harburg’s original introductory verse, which is rare, though the song is forever popular. And second: its arrangement has more variations than any other “Rainbow” I’ve heard – it’s one chordy chart.
“I’ve Grown Accustomed to her Face” is from one of my parents’ favorite records, the cast recording of Lerner and Loewe’s ‘My Fair Lady’. “… damn, damn, damn, damn, damn… I’ve grown accustomed to her face…” Henry Higgins reluctantly realizes that he loves Liza Doolittle. Stuart Duncan plays a lovely tuned-down violin.
Another favorite from that family record collection was yet another cast album from another Broadway musical: ‘Peter Pan’, starring Mary Martin. My little brother, Livingston beat me to it years ago but here, also, is my version of the dreamy idyl, “Never Never Land”. Thank you for listening…
~James
Over The Rainbow: The American Standard EP is available to stream or purchase now.