The passing of James Senese, at the age of 80, from a lung infection, marks a moment of deep mourning not only for Naples but for the entire history of Italian and international music.
Gaetano Senese, known as James, was a musician, saxophonist, and composer of immense stature, a true "brother in soul" as he was defined overseas, a pioneer and central figure in a sonic revolution that still resonates today.
He was 80 years old and had been hospitalized at Cardarelli Hospital for a month due to pneumonia. In a social media post, his friend Enzo Avitabile wrote: "There are not enough words for such great pain, just a simple thank you! Thank you for your talent, dedication, passion, and research. You were an example of music and life. A friend for a brother, a brother for a friend. Forever."
His career: from Showmen to Pioneer of Neapolitan Power
James Senese's career is a path of artistic coherence and constant research, rooted in the social and cultural melting pot of his Naples:
The Showmen (60s)He began at a very young age and, together with Mario Musella, founded the band that would bring rhythm and blues and soul sounds to Italy, challenging the melodic landscape of the time. Born in Siena, with his "black skin" (he was the son of an African-American soldier and a Neapolitan mother), he immediately embodied the fusion of cultures that would characterize his music.
Naples Central Station (70s): The real turning point.
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The bond with Pino DanieleIts importance is inextricably linked to the figure of Pino Daniele. James Senese was a crucial member of the singer-songwriter's historic band, contributing his unmistakable saxophone to the blues and jazz sound that defined the "new Neapolitan music." As Senese himself recalled, the two were bound by a deep respect and an almost fraternal artistic understanding.
Solo career and international collaborationsIn addition to his bands, Senese has continued to explore his sound throughout a long solo career, churning out albums that retain his unmistakable signature style. His collaborations range from jazz giants like Gil Evans, Ornette Coleman, and the Art Ensemble of Chicago, to Bob Marley's reggae, and even Italian artists like Tullio De Piscopo and his friend Enzo Avitabile.
The importance beyond Naples
James Senese's impact extends far beyond the confines of Campania. The father of Neapolitan Power: he, along with others, sparked a movement that made Neapolitan music an international language, combining the intensity of American jazz and funk with the melodic and linguistic richness of Naples.
Innovator of musical languageHis anarchic yet elegant sax playing and his choice to sing in Neapolitan over complex rhythms and sophisticated arrangements paved the way for a new expressiveness and dignity for the dialect in "high" music.
Consistency and FreedomSenese was a symbol of artistic consistency, rejecting compromise and trends to follow his own path and his constant musical exploration, as evidenced by his own words and those of friends like Avitabile. His music was a form of struggle against prejudice and a celebration of freedom.
His saxophone, capable of expressing pain, strength, struggle, and passion, has passed away. But the legacy of James Senese, the musician who brought Naples into dialogue with the worlds of jazz and funk, is immortal.
Comments (1)
The passing of James Senese is an event that leaves a profound mark, not only on Neapolitan music but on the entire musical landscape. His influence is still felt today and will be difficult to forget.