Happy People (Le Coq Records)
This week on Talk About Las Vegas With Ira, Ira welcomes jazz artist Andy James, whose latest album, “Happy People” (Le Coq Records), blends the fire of flamenco with the soul of jazz. Andy began her artistic journey as a flamenco dancer, studying in Australia and Spain before performing worldwide. She talks about her family’s musical roots, the challenges of injuries, and meeting her husband—a classically trained pianist and former ballet dancer—during a rehearsal for "Carmen."
Now based in Las Vegas, Andy shares how she draws inspiration from Chick Corea, crafts songs through collaboration, and recorded her new album across several cities over the course of a year. From the unpredictability of live performance to the quiet focus of meditation before a show, Andy brings passion, discipline, and artistry to every stage she steps on.
ABOUT
After many years as an internationally acclaimed flamenco dancer, based in Madrid, and traveling the globe with some of the genre’s most acclaimed musicians and performers - from big theaters in Spain to venues in France, Germany, Czech Republic and Japan (the largest market for flamenco music in the world) - James toured the world. Leaving the flamenco circuit for a new life in the U.S., James began casually recording her favorite jazz standards, making an artful transition into jazz, both as a singer of heartfelt originals and stellar interpreter of timeless classics and jazz renditions of the Great American Songbook era and beyond when she released her debut album, CARAVAN, in 2018.
While in Spain, she had participated in players jams at clubs such as Café Madrid, so she felt right at home when she decided to start performing at jazz clubs across the United States, including venues in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami, as well as throughout California. Additionally, she has headlined at prestigious Jazz Festivals across Europe. James and Piero Pata formed an independent label, Le Coq Records to release her music, working with acclaimed veteran jazz musicians including John Patitucci, Vinnie Colauita, Nate Smith, Nicholas Payton Terell Stafford, Alex Acuna, Rick Margitza, Chico Pinheiro, and many more. Previous albums in James’ discography include: CARAVAN (2018), SHARED LIVES (2019), BLUE (2019), AN EVENING WITH/ ANDY JAMES AND JOHN PATITUCCI (2021), TU AMOR (2021) RHYTHM IN NEW YORK (2021) and LET ME SEE YOUR HEART (2024).