The Times-Herald (Moose Jaw)
February 15, 2006
By Mandy Higgins

Saskatchewan-native Colin James says his newest CD, Limelight, is "a little more earthy" than his other projects. The guitarist said the album's sound is a progression of his interest in diffferent types of music. There's some pop sound, but there's a definite undercurrent of the blues. There's a lot of acoustic sounds on the album as well, he said.

"I started out doing blues rock, acoustic blues, then some big band, then some swing," he said about his musical progression throughout his career.

"But I found when I listen to music, I usually choose soulful music," said the veteran musician, who once studied under legendary, American bluesman Stevie Ray Vaughn in Texas.

"I've always sung that way, but I've found I've grown into my voice finally. You sing, and you sing with abandon."

James performs in Moose Jaw Friday.

James wrote 10 of the songs on the 14-song album, sometimes with the help of others. Four are covers, including songs by Van Morrison and Bob Dylan.

Limelight, James's 10th album, was produced by Colin Linden. Linden, another well known Canadian bluesman and slide guitarist, will be the opening act at James's Moose Jaw show. Drummer Jim Keltner, who has worked with Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton, also worked on the album, as did Craig Northey, formerly of the Odds and currently of the band Strippers Union.

James burst on the Canadian music scene in 1988, when he recorded his first album, which was self-titled. His follow-up album, Sudden Stop, earned him a U.S. chart-topping single, an appearance on Late Night with David Letterman and a tour with ZZ Top.

Originally from Regina, James is well-known for a number of songs including ‘Voodoo Thing’, ‘Five Long Years’, ‘Chicks, Cars and the Third World War’ and ‘Just Came Back’.

Over the years, James has won six Junos, including male vocalist of the year and best producer.