(March 2, 2025) Grit from the South, smoothness honed from gospel beginnings and sweetness harvested from the magic of rediscovering love. South Carolina’s James Tillman Jr., AKA J. Vito, is a performer who cultivated his silken, earthy tenor as a pastor’s son and a group member (The Voices Of Harmony, The Hamiltones), and is now showcasing his charismatic gifts as a solo artist. His just-released EP, Covers From The Couch, not only displays Vito’s verbal dexterity with foundational modern era R&B (Maxwell, Tevin Campbell, Case), he also turns a 1960s pop smash, “Happy Together” (yes, that “Happy Together”) into a sultry slow burner and flips the classic Herbie Hancock groove, “I Thought It Was You,” into a less tech-driven, more nimble soul soliloquy.
The art of re-recording well-loved classics is not just in preserving the essence of the original: it also takes courage and vision to execute and recalibrate it, no matter the identity of its original performer, with a flavor all its own.
Certified soul crooner Anthony Hamilton recognized his talents and has collaborated with him (live and in the studio) for over a decade, so there should be no surprise when J. Vito’s colorfully-rendered “Couch” becomes a centerpiece in your own 2025 collection of faves.
By Melody Charles
