Jazz Vocalist and Composer, James Judson has released his debut Jazz album, "Songs Of My Dreams". James has a very interesting musical life story to tell about his involvement with music. He grew up in a large coal mining family in Boulder, Colorado surrounded by music. His cousin taught him to sing when he was four and at five years old he made his first public appearance when Frankie Yankovic, aka the "Polka King" came to town and invited Judson on stage to sing. His first public performance made a lasting impression on him and he started learning how to play drums and guitar. By the time he was 13, James was working in a rock band as lead vocalist and drummer. Later in high school, he joined a band playing weddings and state fairs and started developing his songwriting skills. It looked like his music career would continue to be a huge part of his adult life, however, he reached a point in his mid-thirties when he had to decide to continue with his struggling music career or focus on raising a family and demands of his construction business. With 6 kids in his family, he knew he had to put his full energies into his business and he put his guitar and musical talents aside. While his performing completely stopped, his love for music never died.
In 2019, Judson was in Los Angeles to help with a construction project his daughter was working on when she introduced him to Don Taicher, a local singer, songwriter and rapper and the two became close friends. This friendship reignited Judson's deeply buried musical desire and he wound up buying a guitar in LA and when he went back home he started playing again and working on his singing.
"Songs Of My Dreams" contains 13 songs consisting of 11 original songs and two standards. It's interesting that after all the exposure Judson had to various types of music including rock that his writing style fits perfectly into the age of the crooners and the big bands they sang with. His compositions have wonderful melodies and lyrics that would fit Sinatra or Bennett perfectly. Judson gathered a world-class group of musicians to join him on this CD and created a CD that is a joyful trip back to the the sounds of the big bands of the forties and fifties and the crooners who sang with them.
I have attached two songs from "Songs Of My Dreams". The first is a Judson original, "Is There A Chance" that really swings and is one of my favorites. The second is the classic, "The Shadow Of Your Smile". I salute James Judson for having the strength and desire to rekindle his musical fire and sharing his beautiful songs with us!
PLAYLIST:
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Is There A Chance
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The Shadow of Your Smile
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Stars Past The Milky Way
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All Of Me
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My Imagination
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Can't Put A Price On Love
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Kiss Me
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The Winderful Night Before
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Eternal Love
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Holding On
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Candlelight or Roses
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Walking A Sidewalk
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On And On
PLAYERS:
James Judson – Vocals, Guitar, Compositions
Gary Matsumoto- Piano Max Haymer- Hammond B3, Fender
Tim Sonnefeld- Rhodes
Mike Gurrola, Dan Lutz, Charles Glenn- Bass
Leddie Garcia- Percussion
Michael Campagna, Aaron Janik,Dan Fornero, Dave Richards, Mike Cordone- Trumpet
Bob Sheppard, Anton Sushev- Alto Sax
Bob Reynolds, Doug Webb- Tenor Sax
Jason Fabus- Baritone Sax
Erik Hughes, Ryan Dragon, Joshua Brown, Todd Eames- Trombone
Eliza James, Olga Ivanenko,Laurann Woods, Lily Honigberg- Violin
Jennifer Wu, Troy Everett- Viola
Jean-Paul Barjon, Judy Kang- Cellos
"Is There A Chance" "The Shadow Of Your Smile"
