EASY EYE SOUND 16th January 2025
I thought I hadn’t heard of James Hunter before but it turns out he was on my favourite live Van Morrison album ‘A Night In San Francisco’, the one blending rhythm and blues with mysticism. One of James Hunter’s idols, Georgie Fame, was the driving force in the band at the time and I hear the connection in the love of the sound. Van returns the favour with a guest spot on ‘Ain’t That A Trip’, not only an honour but a chance to see what moves Mr Hunter. James is grounded in the blues and in soul. The choogling blues on the aforementioned song is contrasted by the soul of ‘Believe It When I See It’ and the funky organ shuffle of ‘Gun Shy’, boogying along on sax toots.
Songs like these could have graced the cooler dance floors in London in the sixties. The classic sound of the Hammond organ is an almost constant flavour, as is the expressive but carefully unflashy guitar. The whole is full of groove, jazzy smoothness and soul. Take ‘Let Me Out Of This Love’ as an exemplar – sharply dressed, beautifully sung, full of now-or-never heart pain and uplifting resolution, riding on keyboard chords and plucked guitar notes – this song is wearing winkle-pickers.
It’s a great soul voice; a touch of grit, an ability to be a lover or a fighter, a tender side alongside the street-smarts. ‘Here And Now’ has an understated vulnerability in the gently strutting ballad, driven by organ stabs. Here, Hunter’s jazzy guitar licks get a showcase. The title track, a Bossa Nova swivel-steps sharply along while the chorus melody lifts and swirls the heart.
This is James Hunter’s eleventh album and marks forty years since his debut. “I’ve reached a point now where age is an advantage because people think you’ve acquired some kind of wisdom but, nah…”, he says. What he has gained since his days of playing covers, is the ability to turn out a natty lyric that channels Northern Soul vibes and the album is all his. “It’s a lovely day if you’re not particular”, goes ‘Particular’, taking a British sardonic lilt to an American genre. Kudos to the band though – without those drums, that double bass, the keys and two horns, this would not be the rounded thing it is.
This will bring a smile to the lips and wiggle to the hips of any soul boy or girl.