Promise In Love

Album: Blackmagic (2009)
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Songfacts®:

  • José James found a sweet spot with highly emotive vocals over jazz grooves peppered with beats. "Promise In Love" is one of his more popular songs. It's a smooth, seductive jam where he leads the lady from the club to the bedroom, capping it with his sweet song.
  • James produced his debut album, The Dreamer, himself but got some help with production on his next one, Blackmagic. "Promise In Love" was produced by the Japanese producer DJ Mitsu The Beats of the group Gagle.
  • Jordana de Lovely joins James on the vocals. The trumpet comes courtesy of Takuya Kuroda.
  • José James was still on the British label Brownswood for his Blackmagic album, even though he's based in America. He moved to an American label, Impulse!, for his next one, and then to Blue Note before forming his own label, Rainbow Blonde, in 2018. Along the way, he expanded his audience by putting his jazz spin on popular R&B songs. One of his most famous covers is his version of the Bill Withers classic "Lovely Day."

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