James Francies, a pianist, had already generated much-deserved attention in jazz circles before he moved to New York City in 2013. He is the youngest American Federation of Musicians President’s Youth Award recipient, DownBeat Magazine awarded him twice with Jazz Arrangement and Composition, and his band was the opening act for the Jazz Crusaders Reunion. Francies also performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival. Taylor Eigsti, a GRAMMY nominee pianist, describes Francies as “poised” to be a major voice on the piano. He is a leader in his generation because of his passion, creativity and ability. He is 22 years old and continues to move forward. James has been living in NYC since he was 22 and has recorded and toured with Eric Harland and The Roots as well as Jeff “Tain’ Watts, Pat Metheny and Chris Potter. He also fronts Kinetic. On NBC with The Roots, Francies is often seen on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. He is currently recording his debut album with the Blue Note Record Label. Revive Music recently named him one of the “8 Artists You Must Know”. Francies’ work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal and Uproxx as well as Downbeat Magazine and the New York Times. Francies is also a collaborator with producer and drummer?uestlove, who works on many projects, including music for film scores and singles for different artists. Francies was recently part of the film score for Vincent N’ Roxxy, starring Zoe Kravitz and Emile Hirsch. You can view the film on Netflix. James was encouraged by his parents to learn from experience. He explored Houstonian culture and gained early exposure to music through church and formal lessons at the age of 5. He was able to absorb the music of his peers and developed an interest in jazz. His three years at Houston’s Summer Jazz Workshop solidified his foundation. It also helped him to become a standout at HSPVA. The renowned performing and visual arts high-school has a long list of alumni including Beyonce and Chris Dave. He won the Ruth and Eli Nadel Scholarship Award (2012-2013) at Stanford Jazz Workshop, earned a full scholarship for Skidmore Summer Jazz Institute, Saratoga Springs, NY, and was presented the Moran Scholarship Award by Jason Moran, pianist and MacArthur Fellow 2010. James was also a gifted composer. James’ musical talent is a result of his curiosity and synesthesia. His music is evocative and purposeful. He has a soothing melodic style that is both forward-looking and comforting. James explores all keys, from the acoustic to Fender Rhodes to the synthesizer. “I love being able to express life through sound… That’s what I consider music relevant. It’s like speaking on a topic without using words. Francies’ impressive performance/recording credits include The Roots, Pat Metheny, Eric Harland, Bilal, Kodak Black, Chris Potter, Robert Glasper, Jeff Tain Watts, Jose James, Chris Dave, and many others. Chance The Rapper’s hit song “No Problem” was recorded by Francies. It won 2 GRAMMY Awards in 2017. Francies was a member, during high school, of Thelonious Monk Institute All-Star Jazz Sextet and The Next Generation Jazz Orchestra. He also joined the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), All-State Jazz Ensemble. Francies has performed extensively on five continents. Francies is a recent graduate of the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, where he was enrolled on full-scholarship. James Francies is a Blue Note Recording Artist and has been endorsed by Yamaha Pianos and Korg Keyboards. He is also an IWC Brand Ambassador. from www.jamesfranciesmusic.com
