James Singleton is an American acoustic bassist, composer, and producer. He is a member of the New Orleans–based jazz group Astral Project with

Johnny Vidacovich John Joseph Vidacovich Jr. (born June 27, 1949) is an American jazz drummer and a member of the band Astral Project with James Singleton, Tony Dagradi, and Steve Masakowski, as well as Nolatet with Mike Dillon and Brian Haas. He has also ...

, Tony Dagradi, and

Steve Masakowski Steve Masakowski (born September 2, 1954) is an American jazz guitarist, educator, and inventor. He invented the guitar-based keytar and the switch pick, and has designed three custom-built seven-string guitars. He developed an approach to playi ...

. He has been described as one of the best and most sought-after bassists in New Orleans.

Career

Singleton has performed with

John Scofield John Scofield (born December 26, 1951) is an American guitarist and composer. His music over a long career has blended jazz, jazz fusion, funk, blues, soul and rock. He first came to mainstream attention as part of the band of Miles Davis; he ...

Stanton Moore Stanton Moore (born July 9, 1972) is an American funk, jazz, and rock drummer from New Orleans. Most widely known as a founding member of Galactic, Moore has also pursued a solo recording career (beginning with his 1998 debut '' All Kooked Out ...

, and

John Medeski Anthony John Medeski (born June 28, 1965) is an American jazz keyboard player and composer. Medeski is a veteran of New York's 1990s avant-garde jazz scene and is known popularly as a member of Medeski Martin & Wood. He plays the acoustic piano ...

as well as John Abercrombie,

Art Baron Arthur John Baron (born January 5, 1950) is an American jazz trombonist. He also plays didgeridoo, conch shell, penny-whistle, alto and bass recorder, and tuba. Career overview Baron is an alumnus of the Berklee College of Music. He joined ...

, Ellis Marsalis, Earl Turbinton,

Eddie Harris Eddie Harris (October 20, 1934 – November 5, 1996) was an American jazz musician, best known for playing tenor saxophone and for introducing the electrically amplified saxophone. He was also fluent on the electric piano and organ. His best-k ...

Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown (April 18, 1924 – September 10, 2005) was an American singer and multi-instrumentalist from Louisiana. He was best-known as a blues music, blues performer, but his music was often eclectic and also touched on genres ...

Lionel Hampton Lionel Leo Hampton (April 20, 1908 – August 31, 2002) was an American jazz vibraphonist, percussionist, and bandleader. He worked with jazz musicians from Teddy Wilson, Benny Goodman, and Buddy Rich, to Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, an ...

Arnett Cobb Arnett Cleophus Cobb (August 10, 1918 – March 24, 1989)
accessed July 2010. was an American tenor saxophonist, somet ...

and Banu Gibson among others. He has recorded with

Chet Baker Chesney Henry "Chet" Baker Jr. (December 23, 1929 – May 13, 1988) was an American jazz trumpeter and vocalist. He is known for major innovations in cool jazz that led him to be nicknamed the "Prince of Cool". Baker earned much attention and ...

, Alvin "Red" Tyler,

James Booker James Carroll Booker III (December 17, 1939 – November 8, 1983) was an American New Orleans rhythm and blues keyboardist and singer. Flamboyant in personality and style, and a pianist of extraordinary technical skill, he was dubbed "the Blac ...

, Johnny "Tan Canary" Adams,

Charlie Rich Charles Allan Rich (December 14, 1932July 25, 1995) was an American country singer. His eclectic style of music also blended influences from rockabilly, jazz, blues, soul, and gospel. In the later part of his life, Rich acquired the nickname t ...

and

Zachary Richard Ralph Zachary Richard (born September 8, 1950) is an American singer-songwriter and poet. His music is a combination of Cajun and Zydeco musical styles. Biography Zachary Richard began his musical career at the age of 8, as soprano in the Bish ...

among others. He produced Astral Project's ''Elvado'' which won '' OffBeat'' magazine's 1998 Best Modern Jazz Album of the year award. Although ''Elvado'' has been described as "straight-ahead bop-influenced jazz with a Crescent City ambiance" Astral Project's live performances are also known for improvisation which Singleton has described as "composing in the groove." He has led projects such as "3 Now 4," "The James Singleton Orchestra" and "The James Singleton Trio." Some of Singleton's recent projects include playing as a member of the New Orleans saxophonist Robert Wagner Trio and the New Orleans keyboardist Robert Walter Trio. In early 2007 he toured nationally with

Skerik Skerik (born November 19, 1964) is an American saxophonist from Seattle, Washington. Performing on the tenor and baritone saxophone, often with electronics and loops, he is a pioneer in a playing style that has been called saxophonics. He is a f ...

and Mike Dillon. In 2008 various projects included an experimental jazz string quartet composed of two former

Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) is an American orchestra based in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is the only full-time, professional orchestra in the Gulf South. The orchestra performs at the Orpheum Theater. The Louisiana Philharmonic ...

members Dave Rebeck and Matt Rhody as well as cellist Helen Gillet. Singleton moved to Los Angeles after

Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Katrina was a powerful, devastating and historic tropical cyclone that caused 1,392 fatalities and damages estimated at $125 billion in late August 2005, particularly in the city of New Orleans and its surrounding area. ...

, but continued to perform frequently in New Orleans. In December 2008, Singleton returned to New Orleans.

Selected discography

* ''Malabar'', James Singleton (2022) * ''Whole Lotta Orange''
Outer Park
(2021) * ''1968 (slight return)''
Outer Park
(2019) * ''No Revenge Necessary''
Nolatet
(2018) * ''Dogs''
Nolatet
(2016) * ''Bones'', Dillon, Vidacovich, Singleton (2013) * ''Gold Bug Crawl'', James Singleton String Quartet (2008) * '' Cure All'', Robert Walter (2008) * ''Lost Children'', Rob Wagner Trio (2006) * '' Super Heavy Organ'', Robert Walter (2005) * ''Time Ebbing''
3now4 (with Dave Easley)
(2004) * ''Legend of Cowboy Bill'', Astral Project (2004) * ''Book of Spells''
3now4 (with Dave Easley)
(2002) * ''3now4''
3now4 (with Dave Easley)
(1997) * ''A Moment of Peace'', Olivier Bou (1995) * '' Direct Axecess'',

(1993) * '' What It Was'', Steve Masakowski (1993)

References

External links

Official Site: Astral Project

Official Site: Nolatet

James Singleton Interview
NAMM Oral History Library (2017) {{DEFAULTSORT:Singleton, James American jazz double-bassists American male double-bassists American jazz composers American male jazz composers Jazz musicians from New Orleans Living people 1955 births Slap bassists (double bass) 21st-century American double-bassists 21st-century American male musicians Astral Project members