James Francies

Biography

Plenty of young musicians show promise, but very few enjoy the sort of meteoric rise that pianist, keyboardist, producer, and composer James Francies has experienced. Since his debut album Flight entranced listeners in 2018, Francies has expanded personal explorations of sound bending and orchestral approaches to the music. Collaborations across stylistic realms — including those with Childish Gambino, Pat Metheny, Mark Ronson, The Roots, YEBBA, Chris Potter, Common, Eric Harland, Marcus Miller, DJ Dahi and Ms. Lauryn Hill — have enhanced his development and refined his sound.

Called “a pianist with liquid dynamism in his touch” by the New York Times, Francies started on piano around age 4, with classical training and an education in the music of the church. Blessed with perfect pitch and synesthesia (or the ability to hear in colors), he attended his first jazz concert, by Houston-born piano legend Joe Sample, at age 6, and began studying jazz in junior high. Many deep influences followed, some of them surprising. Along with pianists like Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Mulgrew Miller, Oscar Peterson, Art Tatum and Taylor Eigsti, a longtime pal, Francies points to guitarists Allan Holdsworth and Mike Moreno and such trumpet masters as Nicholas Payton, Freddie Hubbard, Clifford Brown and Lee Morgan. A highly decorated tenure at HSPVA—including spots in the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, the Thelonious Monk Institute All-Star Jazz Sextet and the GRAMMY Jazz Session Combo—earned Francies a full scholarship to Manhattan’s New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music.

While he was earning his degree, Francies was also rapidly ascending the jazz ranks and building a professional career. Early bandstand time with Jeff “Tain” Watts helped him cut his teeth and raise his profile, as did his first international tour, with Chris Dave and the Drumhedz. Chris Potter tapped him for his trio along with drummer Eric Harland, and Pat Metheny assembled a trio with Francies and drummer Nate Smith. He met Questlove and Roots keyboardist James Poyser a few years ago, and since then has become a go-to resource for Quest and company—subbing for Poyser on Roots concerts and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon; participating in the Roots-produced Hamilton cast recording, in addition to other film and TV score work.

In issuing Purest Form, his second Blue Note release, Francies accesses intimate chambers of his artistry, interpreting love, grief, frailty, and fortitude. The album’s core trio includes Francies’ longtime collaborators Burniss Travis on bass and Jeremy Dutton on drums—three Houston-raised artists who have been playing together and developing alongside one another for more than a decade. Additional musicians featured throughout include his Blue Note labelmates alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins and vibraphonist Joel Ross, as well as guitarist Mike Moreno and vocalists Elliott Skinner, Peyton, and Bilal.

Releases

Videos

James Francies: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert
James Francies “First Look” with Don Was
James Francies “Rose Water”
JAMES FRANCIES “713” (OFFICIAL VIDEO)
James Francies “Crib” (Live from WBGO)

SPOTLIGHT

View All

JAMES FRANCIES REVEALS HIS “PUREST FORM”

Since his debut album Flight entranced listeners in 2018, pianist-producer James Francies has expanded personal explorations of sound bending and orchestral approaches to the music. Collaborations across stylistic realms — including those with Childish Gambino, Pat Metheny, Mark Ronson, The Roots, YEBBA, Chris Potter, Common, Eric Harland, Marcus Miller, DJ Dahi and Ms. Lauryn Hill — have... read more

JAMES FRANCIES TAKES FLIGHT

Plenty of young musicians show promise, but very few enjoy the sort of meteoric rise that pianist, keyboardist and composer James Francies is currently experiencing. At only 23, he’s played with jazz headliners like Pat Metheny, Chris Potter, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Stefon Harris, Eric Harland, and Terrace Martin, and racked up equally impressive credits in hip-hop and R&B: from gigs with... read more

News

View All

JAMES FRANCIES SHARES EVOCATIVE VOCAL TRACK “ROSE WATER” FROM HIS EXPANSIVE NEW ALBUM “PUREST FORM” OUT MAY 21

Pianist, producer, and composer James Francies has released “Rose Water,” an evocative new vocal track featuring singer Elliott Skinner from Francies’ expansive new album Purest Form due out May 21. It follows the album’s first single “713,” a vivid tribute to the pianist’s Houston hometown. A... read more

PIANIST JAMES FRANCIES RETURNS WITH NEW ALBUM “PUREST FORM” OUT MAY 21; HEAR THE 1st SINGLE “713”

Pianist, producer, and composer James Francies has released “713,” a vivid tribute to his Houston hometown that is the first single from his forthcoming album Purest Form, an expansive opus due out May 21. The album is available for pre-order now on CD and digital formats. https://youtu.be/u2egpSzhjsA Since... read more

BLUE NOTE RECORDS 80th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION – THE STATE OF JAZZ 2019 FEATURING KANDACE SPRINGS, JAMES FRANCIES & JAMES CARTER

This November, a triple-bill of current Blue Note artists—Kandace Springs, James Francies, and the James Carter Organ Trio—will embark on a U.S. tour of performing arts centers and theaters around the country in celebration of the 80th Anniversary of Blue Note Records. Each artist will perform a set of their own... read more

JAMES FRANCIES RELEASES NEW TRACK FROM HIS DEBUT ALBUM “FLIGHT”; JAZZ STANDARD NYC SHOWS NOV. 8-9

Pianist James Francies has released “Sway,” the second single from his forthcoming debut album Flight, which comes out next Friday, October 19. The track features Francies—who The New York Times called “a pianist with liquid dynamism in his touch”—in a quartet with guitarist Mike Moreno, bassist Burniss... read more

PIANIST JAMES FRANCIES TO RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM “FLIGHT” OCT. 19

Blue Note Records announces the October 19 release of Flight, an extraordinary debut album from the legendary Jazz label’s newest signing James Francies, the Houston-born New York City-based pianist, keyboardist, and composer that The New York Times called “a pianist with liquid dynamism in his touch.” Flight is... read more

Sign up to receive email updates and offers from:
Emails will be sent by or on behalf of UMG Recordings Services, Inc. 2220 Colorado Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90404 (310) 865-4000. You may withdraw your consent at any time. See Privacy Policy at privacypolicy.umusic.com.
Ooops, no player here yet!