JC Hopkins

JC Hopkins
Hopkins at the piano.

JC Hopkins (born August 9, 1964) is an American bandleader, record producer, and Grammy-nominated producer and songwriter.

Biography

California

JC Hopkins was born and raised in Cypress, California where he attended school and played in various bands in his youth. He plays guitar, harmonica, and piano, eventually concentrating on the latter. Upon moving to San Francisco in the early 1980s Hopkins began performing solo works as a Folk singer. His first band there, Flophouse, began as a folk rock ensemble whose debut self-titled album was produced by Peter Case. The band's second album, "Undaunted", garnered favorable reviews including ink in Spin Magazine.^[1] In 1998 he debuted his first musical, "Show Biz'ness", at the legendary Cafe Du Nord in San Francisco.^[2]

New York City

In 2000 Hopkins moved to Brooklyn, New York to pursue his interest in transitioning from folk and musical theater to jazz and created a big band by the name of JC Hopkins Biggish Band. Hopkins was introduced to a then fledgling singer Norah Jones through bassist Lee Alexander (musician) who played on Victoria Williams' album Water To Drink, which Hopkins co-produced. Jones began singing with the Biggish Band and they performed in venues throughout New York City. A 2008 interview with Judy Camichael delves into Hopkins creative relationship with Jones.^[3]

Upon Jones signing to Blue Note Records and recording her debut album Come Away with Me on which Hopkins co-wrote "Painter Song" with Lee Alexander, singer Madeleine Peyroux took her place on the bandstand and began writing songs with Hopkins, many which would later appear on Hopkins album "Underneath A Brooklyn Moon". Peyroux continued to perform with the band along with vocalist Queen Esther who eventually became the band's mainstay singer.

JC Hopkins and Queen Esther

Legendary Country singer/songwriter Willie Nelson heard a demo of Norah Jones singing Hopkins' song "Dreams Come True" with the JC Hopkins Biggish Band and decided to record the tune as a duet with Jones. That song appears on Nelson's album "It Always Will Be" and was nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Country Collaboration.

Underneath A Brooklyn Moon

In 2005 Hopkins released the full-length album "Underneath A Brooklyn Moon" consisting of nine original songs co-written by Norah Jones ("One Never Knows") and Madeleine Peyroux ("Here Comes Love", "I Still Believe In Some Kind Of Love", "I've Got My Finger On A Star", "Settle Down"). The album received positive press on a national scale, including The New Yorker, as well as on National Public Radio.^[4]

Actor John Lithgow, upon hearing Hopkins in his NPR interview, inquired with Michael Krumper of Razor and Tie Records who sent Lithgow a copy of "Underneath A Brooklyn Moon". Shortly after, Lithgow asked Hopkins to produce his album of Tin Pan Alley children's songs, titled "The Sunny Side of the Street". That album was nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Children's Album.

Live Performances

In addition to concerts and events throughout the country, JC Hopkins Biggish Band notably played two tribute shows honoring—and featuring—seminal jazz songwriter Mose Allison. The first, in 2001, was held at Joe's Pub in Manhattan and included Hopkins' longtime friend and collaborator, singer Martha Wainwright, Norah Jones, Madeline Peyroux and Queen Esther. One decade later, in 2011, the band held its second tribute to Allison, again featuring the jazz great, as well as his daughter Amy Allison. The performance featured longtime Hopkins hero and legendary vocalist Elvis Costello performing Allison's songs with the Biggish Band as well as guest appearances by Orange Is the New Black star Lea DeLaria, folk singer Jolie Holland, Verve recording artist Lucy Woodward, and jazz singer Sasha Dobson.^[5]

JC Hopkins and Elvis Costello at City Winery, NYC

The Biggish Band has also been featured at Lincoln Center's "Midsummer Night's Swing" ^[6] and has included songwriter and performance artist Justin Vivian Bond, Joey Arias, Lea DeLaria, as well as jazz pianist and singer Champian Fulton. The band regularly collaborates with various established venues and producers including humorist and writer Kiki Valentine at The Player's Club with Justin Bond, Martha Wainwright, Jolie Holland, The Minsky Sisters, and has appeared at the Blue Note Jazz Festival ^[7]

JC Hopkins Biggish Band and Queen Esther at Minton's Harlem

In 2014, vocalist Charles Turner joined the ensemble just as JC Hopkins Biggish Band began its Wednesday night residency the legendary Harlem jazz venue formerly known as Minton's Playhouse (now called "Minton's Harlem").^[8]

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The Biggish Band was also given the honor of celebrating the 100 year centennial for Frank Sinatra with the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival. Bandleader Hopkins created updated arrangements for classic Sinatra songs crooned by actress and singer Lea DeLaria, artist Ne-Yo, singer Alice Smith, and The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers.^[10]

Minton's Harlem

In addition to his residency at the famed jazz institution Minton's Harlem, in 2014 Hopkins took over as music programmer and elevated the club's reputation as the genre's birthplace of bebop. ^[11]

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Additional Credits

JC Hopkins photography appears on Martha Wainwright's Sans Fusils, Ni Souliers, à Paris: Martha Wainwright's Piaf Record and inside the 2012 album Come Home to Mama.

Affiliated Albums

As Producer

• Victoria Williams, "Water To Drink", Atlantic Records (2000)
• Victoria Williams, '"Sing Some Old Songs", Dualtone Records (2002)
• John Lithgow, "The Sunny Side Of The Street", Razor and Tie Records, (2006)
• Queen Esther, "What Is Love", El Recordings (2010)
• Ben Fields, "Extraordinary Light", Sire Records (2014)

Songwriting Credits

• Chuck Prophet, "Balinese Dancer" "Balinese Dancer, (1994)
• Barbara Manning, "Still?", Nowhere, Matador Records, (1995)
• Norah Jones, "Painter Song", Come Away With Me, Blue Note, (2002)
• Willie Nelson, "Dreams Come True", "It Always Will Be", Lost Highway Records, (2004)
• Ollabelle, (Amy Helm)"Everything Is Broken", "Riverside Battle Songs", Verve Records, (2006)
• Ben Fields, "Matilda", "Extraordinary Light", Sire Records, (2014)

Discography

JC Hopkins Biggish Band

• Untitled (In production) (2015)
• "Underneath A Brooklyn Moon", Tigerlily Records (2005)

JC Hopkins

• "Athens By Night", Stickshift Records (1997)

Flophouse

• "Flophouse", Heyday Records, (1990)
• "Undaunted", Heyday Records, (1993)
• "Upside Down", EP, Brinkman Records (1994)
• "Tulips and Chimneys", Brinkman Records, (1995)

References