James Singleton is one of the most in-demand bass players in New Orleans, a core member of Astral Project and, since 2016, a member of the lauded Nolatet. He has accompanied everyone from Chet Baker, Ellis Marsalis and John Scofield to James Booker — but Malabar is his own vehicle, a band built around his writing and leadership.
The project's full-length debut as a bandleader, Malabar (Sinking City Records, 2022), puts Singleton's compositions in the hands of a sextet: Mike Dillon on vibes and percussion, Justin Peake on drums and electronics, Rex Gregory on clarinet, bass clarinet, flute and tenor sax, Brad Walker on saxophones, and Jonathan Freilich on guitar — with Singleton himself on bass, trumpet and effects. Across eight tracks the band moves from off-kilter, accessible melodies to loosely structured explorations, shifting tempos and moods without losing the New Orleans groove underneath.
