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November 2005
5 Questions With Colin James
Colin James is back in the spotlight. With the release of his tenth album Limelight - a stunning blend of soul, rhythm and roots - Colin is striking a chord with fans old . . . and new. With a career that spans blues, rock, big band and r&b, Colin is recognized as a guitar virtuoso and a musician of the highest integrity.
Here are his answers to our 5 Questions With:
Q. Why should people check out your music, what sets it apart from other material that's out there already?
That's a hard thing to answer. I guess my experiences over the last 25 years of playing are different than any one else's. I've been guided, but not ruled by, a love for blues, r&b and soul, that continues to show me new directions. I love playing guitar and I think I'm becoming a better writer and that's something I've been really working at. Most of all I think I'm only starting to find my voice.
Q. What five songs or albums would you use as a soundtrack to your life so far and why?
· Astral Weeks (Van Morrison) Serious stream of consciousness
· Door To Door (Albert King and Otis Rush) Great blues by the masters
· Fleetwood Mac (Fleetwood Mac in Chicago) As a kid this was mind blowing
· Bob Marley Survivor (Great singing, blues inflected solos, great songs)
· Stevie Wonder (Hotter Than July) Anything you need to know about singing soulfully is right here
Q. What's been your most embarrassing and your most exhilarating moment in the music world so far?
My most embarrassing was when I was hosting a show in Montreal called Blues 91'. I went up to Pops Staples of the Staple Singers and asked if he was going to sing "Respect Yourself." I went to the very back of the auditorium to listen when out of the blue he says, "Where's that young man Colin James?" I ran like hell to get back to the side of stage and then he handed me the mike for the start of the second verse, which I had totally forgotten. So I mumbled in some kind of ebonic esperanto until the chorus came. Whew!
Playing in front of 50,000 at the Cotton Bowl with ZZ Top, Santana and Steve Miller was pretty exciting and playing with Stevie Ray Vaughan was incredible every time.
Q. Finish this sentence: Making it in the music industry is tough, but I never gave up because:
music is everything to me. I could not live without it. As someone who is not particularly religious this is as close as I get. It's been very good to me in many, many ways.
Q. Describe both yourself and your music in five words:
Reverant, dedicated, honoured, soulful, happy
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