It could be quite older, i think (if i'm not mistaken) James had started working with Jamie around the SC days, and i think in fact he was quite decent on both SC and the Black Clouds tours.
Does anyone know who he was working with around the time of Score? That's what I consider his best vocals ever. His technique was stellar at that time and the way he was singing was right in the pocket for his voice. That's the James who made me a fan. He sang then with unearthly beauty and power.
He was also twenty years younger.
Crystal, you would know far better than me, but doesn't age play a role in this?
From my perspective, time would be better spent on crafting new, lower, and far more sustainable melodies for the songs rather than trying to regain his former glory. Ray Alder is constantly cited in this regard, and I think he is a very good benchmark for what James should try to achieve.
But, again, I will defer to your opinion on this, Crystal!
Age
does enter in, but not in the way that some think. The vocal cords can become thicker and less flexible with age, which can allow the singer to have (in some cases, it depends on the person) a few lower notes or a richer, fuller sound (for example compare Michael Kiske in the last few years vs him in 1987), but loss of range isn't inevitable. It's good, healthy technique that keeps (again, for example) Metropolitan Opera singers performing into their 70's. Sure, they may not have that same easy access to the very tippity-top, but they should still have facility with the greater part of their range as well as, yes, a few 'money notes'. As the voice changes with age, what any singer needs is regular coaching and reworking of their technique as they navigate the changes in the body. Hopefully James does this, and while he reworks his technique yes, singing in middle range for a while may be best for the health of his voice.
But age doesn't mean his voice has "gotten lower". A tenor doesn't become a baritone, he only becomes an older tenor. So the less-flexible vocal cords of middle age will require him to access his top range
differently. A good technical teacher or vocal therapist can 100% help him with that. Does it mean he should be singing the high F# in Learning to Live every night on tour? Probably not the best choice. I gave the example in the past of coloratura soprano Natalie Dessay, who sang an A6 in the Doll Song from
The Tales of Hoffman and countless Queens of the Night in her earlier career and later on was singing things like Violetta in
La Traviata (which only goes to the D above high C) - it's still very much a coloratura soprano role, but for a 'heavier' coloratura voice than the Doll which was her claim to fame.
I really do hope that James does the right thing for himself and his career by either going back to his old coach (if that's possible) or else finding someone else who can help him regain flexibility and ease through his register breaks which can also become problematic with age (again, because the thickening of the cords/reduced flexibility). Just like any other muscle group in the body, this flexibility can be maintained and kept in shape for the long haul with proper care.
Topic: Songs for Next Tour / What Can James Sing? (Read 9934 times)
