James Senese
Italian jazz musician (1945–2025)
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Gaetano "James" Senese (6 January 1945 – 29 October 2025) was an Italian saxophonist, composer and singer-songwriter.
Life and career
Senese was born in Naples, the son of Anna Senese and James Smith, an American soldier from North Carolina in Italy because of World War II.[1][2] Senese's father moved back to the US eighteen months after Gaetano's birth and never returned.[3] Senese started playing the saxophone at 12 years old.[1] He made his professional debut in the 1960s, as a member of the rhythm and blues band The Showmen (later known as Showmen 2), with whom he won the 1968 edition of Cantagiro.[1][2]
In 1974 Senese co-founded and led the jazz-progressive rock group Napoli Centrale. After the group disbanded in 1978, he started a long collaboration with Pino Daniele, both in studio and on stage.[1][2] During his career, he also collaborated with James Brown, Ornette Coleman, Gil Evans, Art Ensemble of Chicago and Roberto De Simone.[4] His first solo album was released in 1983 by Polydor Records.[1][2]
A documentary film about Senese, James, was directed in 2020 by Andrea Della Monica and premiered at the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival.[5]
Senese died of pneumonia at Cardarelli Hospital in Naples, on 29 October 2025, at the age of 80. He had been hospitalised since 24 September.[4]
Discography
- James Senese (Polydor, 1983)
- Il passo del gigante (Tobacco, 1984)
- Alhambra (EMI Italiana, 1988)
- Hey James (Blue Angel, 1991)
- Sabato Santo (Polosud, 2000)
- Passpartù (ITWHY, 2003)
- Tribù e passione (with Enzo Gragnaniello) (Edel Italia, 2003)
- E' Fernut' 'o Tiempo (Arealive, 2012)
- O sanghe (Alabianca/Warner, 2016)
- Chest nun é a terra mia - (Arealive, 2025)
