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,

Tony Dagradi Anthony Arnold "Tony" Dagradi (born September 22, 1952) is an American jazz saxophonist. Biography Dagradi was born in New York City, and began playing alto saxophone when he was eight years old. In his professional career, he has primarily play ...

, and

Steve Masakowski Steve Masakowski (born September 2, 1954) is 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 playing the guit ...

. 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), sometimes referred to as "Sco", is an American guitarist and composer whose music over a long career has blended jazz, jazz fusion, funk, blues, soul and rock. He first came to mainstream attention in th ...

, Stanton Moore, 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, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Lionel Hampton, Arnett Cobb and Banu Gibson among others. He has recorded with Chet Baker,

Alvin "Red" Tyler Alvin Owen "Red" Tyler (December 5, 1925 – April 3, 1998) was an American R&B and neo-bop jazz saxophonist, composer and arranger, regarded as "one of the most important figures in New Orleans R&B". Biography Born and raised in New Orleans, Ty ...

James Booker James Carroll Booker III (December 17, 1939 – November 8, 1983) was a New Orleans rhythm and blues keyboardist born in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Booker's unique style combined rhythm and blues with jazz standards. Musician Dr. J ...

, Johnny "Tan Canary" Adams, Charlie Rich 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 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 founding member of Critt ...

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 O ...

members Dave Rebeck and Matt Rhody as well as cellist Helen Gillet. Singleton moved to Los Angeles after Hurricane Katrina, but continued to perform frequently in New Orleans.BASSIST INSTINCT James Singleton may be living in L.A., but his heart is still in New Orleans
Keith Spera, ''nola.com/Times-Picayune'', June 23, 2006, Retrieved August 3, 2007 In December 2008, Singleton returned to New Orleans.

Selected discography

* ''Whole Lotta Orange''
Outer Park
(2021) * ''1968 (slight return)''
Outer Park
(2019) * ''No Revenge Necessary''
Nolatet
(2018) * ''Dogs''
Nolatet
(2016) * ''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 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 double-bassists 21st-century American male musicians Astral Project members