Powerhouse soul singer Morgan James is set to release her newest album, Soul Remains the Same, on August 8th. The unexpected collection follows in the pattern of James’ ever growing list of concept albums: re-creating iconic music made primarily by men, transforming it into something profound, beautiful and completely new, in a way only a woman could.
The newest single from the album is a hauntingly poignant rendition of The Smashing Pumpkins’ 90s hit “Tonight, Tonight.”
Aptly called “a phenomenal talent whose feel for classic soul music is bone deep” by The New York Times, the former Broadway actress and alumna of The Juilliard School, breathes new life into iconic hard rock and metal tracks by artists including Ozzy Osbourne, AC/DC, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Metallica.
“‘Tonight, Tonight’ was the last song we added,” says James, “and I knew it was the way I wanted to close the album. When you strip this song down to just keys and voice, the lyrics become the true star. The version we ended up with is a single, complete take—a true performance take of the song, with no edits. This song is so moving, and is the perfect final moment for me.”
Soul Remains The Same follows a series of albums that James has recreated, including reinterpretations of Jeff Buckley’s Grace, D’Angelo’s Black Messiah, and The Beatles’ White Album. She’s also released five albums of original music as a proud indie artist. Two years ago, James released possibly her biggest endeavor to date, Jesus Christ Superstar performed by an all-female cast including Cynthia Erivo, Shoshana Bean, Ledisi and Bridget Everett. An all female crew of producers and engineers and a female symphony orchestra brought the profound production to life. “
UPCOMING TOUR DATES
August
8/8 – Charlotte, NC – Middle C Jazz Club*
8/10 – Steamboat Springs, CO – Strings Music Pavilion
8/14 – New York, NY – Dizzy’s Club*
8/15 – New York, NY – Dizzy’s Club*
8/24 – Reno, NV – Nightingale Concert Hall
8/25 – Incline Village, NV – Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival at Nevada State Park
8/31 – Budapest, Hungary – Béla Bartók National Concert Hall
September
9/5 – New Albany, OH – Hinson Amphitheater
9/7 – Brampton, ON – The Rose Brampton
9/9 – Toronto, ON – The Great Hall
9/10 – Montréal, QC – Théâtre Fairmount
October
10/3 – Knoxville, TN – Tennessee Theatre
10/9 – Portsmouth, NH – Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club
10/10 – Plymouth, MA – Spire Center For Performing Arts
10/25 – New Orleans, LA – New Orleans Jazz Market ^
10/26 – New Orleans, LA – New Orleans Jazz Market ^
November
11/5 – Orlando, FL – Judson’s LIVE *^
11/6 – Orlando, FL – Judson’s LIVE *^
11/15 – Buffalo, NY – Kleinhans Music Hall
December
12/5 – Carmel, IN – Payne & Mencias Palladium
12/6 – Chicago, IL – Park West
12/7 – Ann Arbor, MI – The Ark
12/9 – Columbus, OH – Davidson Theatre
12/11 – St, Louis, MO – Delmar Hall
12/12 – Louisville, KY – Bomhard Theater
12/13 – Bloomington, IN – Buskirk – Chumley Theater
12/14 – Nashville, TN – Country Music Hall of Fame, CMA Theater
12/18 – Newport News, VA – Ferguson Center for the Arts, Peebles Theatre
12/31 – Reading, PA – Santander Performing Arts Center
