# James Francies is soaring, and has high-flying recordings: Video

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2019/02/16/james-francies-is-soaring-and-has-high-flying-recordings-video/
- Published: 2019-02-16T14:15:04+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**The meteoric rise of James Francies is no surprise to anyone embedded in New York’s
thriving jazz scene. **

Besides celebrating his auspicious debut, _Flight,_ on Blue Note Records, this multi-
pronged pianist keeps an ambitious touring schedule with guitarist Pat Metheny and
others. On this edition of My Music, Francies — a Houston native at ease in many
settings, from jazz to electronic music to hip-hop — tells his story.

We begin by hearing Francies as both bassist and keyboardist on _Circuits_, an album
by saxophonist Chris Potter that also features the stellar drum work of Eric Harland.
Then we delve into the pianist’s fascinating backstory — from making an income as
a child in a variety of churches in Houston; to emulating his piano hero Oscar Peterson
in both style and wardrobe; to finding his original voice on his instrument while
making key alliances with many of today’s top influencers, like Questlove from The
Roots.

Watch Francies perform his composition “Crib” in our WBGO performance studio, with
Burniss Travis on bass and Jeremy Dutton on drums.

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