ANDY JAMES TO RELEASE NEW JAZZ-FLAMENCO INSPIRED
ALBUM TITLED “HAPPY PEOPLE” AVAILABLE ON MARCH 7 ON
ALL STREAMING PLATFORMS
THE LE COQ RECORDS 16-TRACK COLLECTION FEATURES
AMERICAN AND LATIN JAZZ GREATS FROM JAMES GENUS TO
JOHN BEASLEY, ALEXA ACUNA, CARLITOS DEL PUERTO,
MARCUS GILMORE, AND MORE
JAMES’ SINGLE, “TO BE SO YOUNG,” DROPS TODAY
Los Angeles, Calif. (January 31, 2025) – Le Coq Records announces the release of vocalist
Andy James’ new 16-track album, HAPPY PEOPLE, to be available on March 7 on all music
streaming platforms (CDs and vinyl to be available at a later date). Fusing jazz and flamenco
music, the two great loves of the multi-talented singer, songwriter and vocalist, the album was
written and produced by Piero Pata and Jon Cowherd, who arranged for an ensemble of
American and Latin jazz greats for the album that explores the emotional ups and downs of
romance while fusing the two musical genres. Pre-save/pre-order the album HERE,
Check out James’ music video for her new single, “To Be So Young,” featuring Chico
Pinheiro arranged by Cowherd and co-written by James, Pata and Cowherd, HERE. Stream the
song HERE.
Long before James moved to the US from Melbourne, Australia to perform in clubs and theaters
in the U.S., record her favorite jazz standards, and formally become a recording artist, James was
a world-acclaimed flamenco dancer in Spain and Europe. Thus, the inspiration to record and
release the new album near and dear to her heart.
Says James, “It’s such a pleasure to finally share my flamenco life story with the jazz audience
through these original compositions in a Flamenco Jazz style! The journey has been incredible,
filled with rhythms that hold so much meaning. I truly believe Piero, Jon, and I have captured the
essence of that story.”
HAPPY PEOPLE, James’ eighth studio album, was recorded in locations all over the world - at
separate junctures from spring to fall 2024 in NYC (Power Station, The Bunker), Rome (Mob
Studio), Seville, Spain (Tempo, Casa Bala) and in James and (her husband) Pata’s adopted
hometown of Las Vegas (Studio A).
In addition to her touring band of Cowherd (piano), John Beasley (B-3), John Ellis (tenor and
soprano sax, bass clarinet) and Rick Margitza (tenor sax), her ensemble on HAPPY PEOPLE
includes leading Brazilian guitarist Chico Pinheiro, Cuban bassist Carlito Del Puerto, drummer
Marcus Gilmore (a onetime member of Chick Corea’s Spanish Heart Band), Peruvian born
percussionist Alex Acuna (formerly of Weather Report), and French percussionist Mino Cinelu.
The U.S.-born backing musicians include saxophonist David Binney and bassist James Genus.
Says Pata: “Producing and co-writing the album ‘Happy People’ with Andy James and Jon
Cowherd was an absolute joy. This project beautifully reflects Andy’s incredible journey through
years of living in Spain as both a flamenco and jazz artist. The talent that came together on this
album is nothing short of breathtaking!”
Adds Cowherd: “It has been an incredible experience working on ‘Happy People,’ and I’m so
honored to have been a part of it on so many levels involving writing, arranging, playing and
producing. The task of combining the traditional rhythms and forms of Flamenco with Jazz
presented a new and exciting opportunity and I am very grateful to Andy James & Piero Pata for
inviting me to the table. I couldn’t be more excited about the release of this collection of songs
performed so sublimely and passionately by Andy.”
James will also be performing at Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Grill Jazz in Los Angeles on March 5 for
a special album release performance backed by Cowherd, Acuna, Chico Pinheiro, Eric Wheeler,
Clarence Penn and David Binney. To purchase tickets check out: HERE.
About Andy James:
After many years as an internationally acclaimed flamenco dancer, based in Madrid, and
traveling the globe with some of the genre’s most acclaimed musicians and performers - from big
theaters in Spain to venues in France, Germany, Czech Republic and Japan (the largest market
for flamenco music in the world) - James toured the world. Leaving the flamenco circuit for a
new life in the U.S., James began casually recording her favorite jazz standards, making an artful
transition into jazz, both as a singer of heartfelt originals and stellar interpreter of timeless
classics and jazz renditions of the Great American Songbook era and beyond when she released
her debut album, CARAVAN, in 2018.
While in Spain, she had participated in players jams at clubs such as Café Madrid, so she felt
right at home when she decided to start performing at jazz clubs across the United States,
including venues in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami, as well as throughout California.
Additionally, she has headlined at prestigious Jazz Festivals across Europe. James and Piero Pata
formed an independent label, Le Coq Records to release her music, working with acclaimed
veteran jazz musicians including John Patitucci, Vinnie Colauita, Nate Smith, Nicholas Payton
Terell Stafford, Alex Acuna, Rick Margitza, Chico Pinheiro, and many more. Previous albums
in James’ discography include: CARAVAN (2018), SHARED LIVES (2019), BLUE (2019),
AN EVENING WITH/ ANDY JAMES AND JOHN PATITUCCI (2021), TU AMOR (2021)
RHYTHM IN NEW YORK (2021) and LET ME SEE YOUR HEART (2024).
Follow Andy James on Instagram at @AndyJamesJazz and please visit: www.andyjames.com.
