Senese was a pioneer of the Neapolitan Sound and was known for his collaboration with Pino Daniele.
James Senese, the celebrated Italian saxophonist, composer and singer-songwriter, died in hospital in his home city of Naples on Wednesday at the age of 80.
Senese, whose musical legacy spans jazz, rock, soul and funk, was admitted to the intensive care unit of the Cardarelli Hospital last month, reportedly died of a lung infection.
Tributes
News of his death was announced by fellow Neapolitan saxophonist Enzo Avitabile who wrote on social media: “There are not enough words for such great pain, but just a 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.”
Naples mayor Gaetano Manfredi hailed Senese as “an extraordinary artist, a true son of Naples, passionate and steeped in influences”, adding: “His saxophone will resonate forever”.
Life and career
Gaetano “James” Senese was born in Naples on 6 January 1945 to a Neapolitan woman, Anna Senese, and an American soldier, James Smith, who was deployed in the southern Italian city during the second world war.
After a year and a half, Smith moved back to the United States and never returned. Senese grew up in the Miano suburb of Naples and began playing the saxophone at 12 years old.
Senese made his professional debut in the 1960s with the rhythm and blues band The Showmen, which later became Showmen 2.
In 1974, he co-founded and led the jazz-rock group Napoli Centrale with Franco Del Prete.
Napoli Sound
The band became a key part of the “Neapolitan Power” movement, forging a unique “Napoli Sound” by blending jazz, funk, blues and Neapolitan tradition music.
After the group disbanded in 1978, Senese began a long collaboration with fellow musician Pino Daniele, who died in 2015.
Senese also started a solo career, releasing his first solo album in 1983. His notable works include the albums Napoli Centrale, Mattanza and Hey James.
He was involved in cinema, composing music for films and appearing in some, such as No grazie, il caffè mi rende nervoso, in which he played himself.
A documentary about him, James, premiered in 2020 at the Venice Film Festival.
Senese is predeceased by his wife Rina, who died in 2022, and is survived by his daughter Anna.
Photo credit: GIO_LE / Shutterstock.com.
