Colin James is battling a bout of cabin fever. His strong Limelight album is out in stores and he has a string of 20 tour dates stretching into the spring. Still, the Vancouver-based musician is busting to get in front of a live audience.

"Since the album came out in September, we've only played one show, " said James. "That's very rare for me, going so long without playing a note.

"Now I'm itching to play."

That's good news if you're one of the fans who holds a ticket to his three sold-out shows at the Schooner Room starting tonight. Otherwise, you'll have to get your James fix with a spin of his new release, Limelight (Maplemusic).

The album has a soulful '70s R&B feel, like some of Van Morrison's best work. (The new album includes the Morrison classic Into The Mystic, plus his lesser-known Fill You Up, from Van's 1977 Period of Transition album.

James hits the mark himself with the original leadoff track Better Way to Heaven, which could have been an outtake from Morrison's Band and Street Choir album.

'Inspires me'

"I have to confess, I'm a massive Van Morrison fan," says the 40- year-old musician. "When Stevie Ray Vaughan died, it took me a long time to find a hero who had the same weight. It wasn't about the guitar hystrionics, it was a soul and a passion in what Stevie did. I found in Van Morrison that person who inspires me - it took a while to fill that hole."

Like the Irish soul legend, James comes from a background of rootsy music - blues, soul, R&B, radio pop, even trad Celtic.

"I appreciate a guy who has stayed in the game as long as (Morrison). And he's become a blues legend - weathering the Irish invasion and becoming a sort of John Lee Hooker character."

James has weathered some changes himself. Starting out as a wunderkind blues rocker, James got the Canadian music scene excited with his pop-blues 1988 debut, produced in Miami with the legendary producer Tom Dowd. Over the years, James has shimmied his music between radio rock and his beloved blues.

'Didn't rehearse'

Limelight strikes a comfortable groove from the opening track. Much of the album was recorded with a live feel in the studio, even nailing some first takes while the energy was still high.

"Basically, I was in a little booth with (producer) Colin Linden to my right, and was staring at drummer Jim Keltner and bassist Hutch Hutchinson. We didn't rehearse the tunes, and mostly did them live and found what works."

James says this album pushes his vocals right out front, bringing a more joyous soul to the disc.

"I'm enjoying singing more than ever before. Singing used to be something I did to get the verse over... an excuse for another guitar solo," he laughs. "But now I love singing.

"I think you just grow into your voice. When I was young, I wanted to sound like a blues guy, so I tried to make my voice deeper and gruffer. Eventually, you stop thinking about that stuff.

"There comes a point where you stop trying to emulate other people and don't think about it anymore - that's a good place."

Canadian radio responded favourably, lifting the first single 'Far Away Like A Radio' into the top 20 on rock radio. Colin Linden, who co-wrote and produced much of the album, joins James as opening act on many of the dates, including the Halifax shows this weekend.

James is touring with a six-piece band, incuding a two-piece horn section.

"That's a pleasure," says James. "I haven't toured with horns since the Little Big Band, and it allows me to have that little extra punch."