James & Black

“For those who had never seen Otis Redding or Aretha Franklin perform, go to a concert of Bruce James and Bella Black – this is the best option to close your eyes and go back to pure American sound whose songs echo to this day, for connoisseurs and non-connoisseurs alike. Bruce with his street poetry - "past tense is no more than last night's wine" - Bella with her voice that tears thoughts and frees the mind of the listener.”
Voci di Citta - Bologna IT 

"Guerrilla Soul is the recipe that Bruce James and Bella Black have mixed together in their Texan Sound Kitchen: A deep-fried, inside still pink, filet of New Orleans Soul à la Dr. John, soaked in a marinade of clubby R&B and organ heavy ZZ Top cover versions; with a pinch of hip-hop and the whole thing served on the funky beats of DJ Phil Ross.”
Zeit.de - Hamburg DE 

"With voices reinforced by concrete saws, earning the duo much respect and reminding us of the origins of soul music the church! Bruce James is perhaps one of the most colorful artists from Austin. Behind his music, brewed from an original mix of Soul, New Orleans R & B and blues lies a musical career that spans over twenty years. Consistency is his penchant for the musical roots of American music. As a pianist/ singer of the legendary band Tunji he shared the stage with Bernie Worrell, Jurassic5 and other giants of the music world. Bella Black is a woman with a story and has a voice among the most poignant in contemporary southern soul who actually says it all." Muziekhuis.nl - Leiden NL 

“a piano man that can swing and croon like Dr. John, or growl and stomp like Tom Waits.”
The Austin Chronicle - Austin TX USA 

"For here are two musicians at the beginning of their breakthrough. One that we give them wholeheartedly." Rootstime.be - Belgium

James & Black: The Transatlantic Sound Revolutionaries of Guerrilla Soul

Some artists follow trends; others forge their own path. Bruce James and Bella Black have been on a relentless journey since 2011, taking their self-coined "Guerrilla Soul" across continents, stages, and airwaves. Rooted in the deep traditions of Southern Soul—from the raw grit of Texas to the swampy grooves of New Orleans and the timeless grit of Memphis—the duo refuses to be a nostalgic throwback. Instead, they craft a sound that is both familiar and refreshingly original, a fusion of storytelling and sonic exploration where the song itself dictates the journey.

In 2012, James & Black made the bold move to Europe, where they have since built a reputation as tireless road warriors, clocking in over 700,000 kilometers and playing nearly 150 shows per year. Their relentless touring has taken them through Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Bulgaria, the UK, Slovakia, and beyond, turning each stop into a celebration of soul, grit, and unfiltered musical expression.

Their pedigree as performers speaks for itself. They’ve shared festival stages with luminaries like Gregory Porter, Fatoumata Diawara, and Candy Dulfer, leaving an indelible mark at Summer Jazz (NL) and Amsterdam’s Vondelpark. Italy’s famed Porretta Soul Festival has welcomed them three times, where they performed alongside blues legends Bobby Rush and Lattimore. At Spain’s Enclave de Agua, they shared the bill with Lee Fields and Nikki Hill, while Germany’s Baltic Soul Weekender saw them alongside Sister Sledge, Lenny Williams, and CeCe Peniston. They’ve even taken the stage at the Peer Blues Festival, rubbing shoulders with fellow Texans ZZ Top, Jools Holland, and the Blind Boys of Alabama.

2018 saw James & Black expanding their reach further, selling out Budapest’s prestigious MÜPA (Hungarian Palace of Arts), headlining Croatia’s Thrill Blues Festival, and making waves at Bulgaria’s Kapana Fest. A triumphant first UK tour alongside Sam Kelly & Richard Sadler led to a landmark performance at the Avignon Bridge Festival, supporting the legendary David Murray and Saul Williams. By 2019, their momentum was unstoppable, headlining Shanghai Spring Fest during their first-ever tour of China.

But James & Black are more than just road warriors—they are meticulous curators of sound, with a growing discography that captures their electric stage energy and storytelling prowess. From the live grit of James & Black - Live at La Chapelle (Paris, 2016) to the studio-polished How Long is Now (2015) and This Time (2017), their catalog is a testament to their commitment to craft. In the summer of 2020, amid the global standstill of the pandemic, they emerged with Be Water, My Love—a project that introduced a new sonic dimension, with Bella stepping into the role of MC, weaving rap verses into their soulful landscape.

After nearly a decade on the road, James & Black found a new home in Boulder, Colorado, where they continue to push their artistry forward. January 2024 saw the release of Gold, a return to their live-stage essence, while Love Flows Like a River was conceived during a creative sabbatical spanning Valencia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Their latest release, When It’s All Said and Done, dropped just before the U.S. presidential election, proving that their message remains as urgent and resonant as ever.

Now, with years of experience and stories collected from the road, James & Black have taken their mission beyond the stage. As mentors and educators at their local Boys & Girls Club, they are shaping the next generation of musicians, passing down the lessons of life on the road, the power of storytelling, and the art of creating something real.

James & Black aren’t just making music—they’re living it, breathing it, and sharing it with the world. And if history is any indication, their journey is far from over.