Take time. Two words that singer/songwriter James Keith Norman lives his life by. And now is his time.
James happily carries on the tradition of those singer/songwriters who influenced him. His music embodies the warmth of Dan Fogelberg and the honesty of Jackson Browne blended with some sweet baby James (Taylor), all with a fresh sensibility that comes from living every breathing moment with having eyes wide open in 2011.
He tells stories and explores moments that transcend place and tap into the common thread that runs deep within us. Whether from the perspective of father or son, lover or friend, his songs honour the good, scratch at the flawed, but never forget that both can exist simultaneously.
James has lived his life surrounded and absorbed by music. Growing up in Toronto, his stepfather, Jimmy Coxson, was a successful pianist, well-known around the jazz clubs plus a staple at the CBC. His mother, Mona, was an influential music booking agent, business music consultant, author of Some Straight Talk About The Music Business, and a columnist at Canadian Musician magazine. As James likes to say, "When we were talking around the dinner table, it was always about music. Even if dinner was at 1 a.m. after a gig."
During his creative career, James has been on both sides of the mic. While writing his music, he built a career in radio, which led him to amass over 40 international advertising awards. And he wrote a critically acclaimed suspense novel, Echoes, which was described byCBC Newsworld as "Robert Ludlum at his best."
And while kissing and cuddling his Gibson J-45, he also managed to get his MBA in 2008. Not bad for a guy who says he’s at his happiest when "all the chords come together."
The songs on the Take Time EP show the range of emotion that can only be fully expressed from the POV of a life lived.
"Take Time (The Weekend Song)" is about, well, taking time to get away from the stresses of life. Sort of an "anthem to kickin' back." "The Past Has Hold Of Me" is based on the premise -- and the promise ! -- that, if you end a romantic relationship with a great person, you'll likely find it really tough to stop thinking about him or her. "Ten Days" was inspired by James's early relationship with his wife: from their first date to the day they got engaged, only ten days passed. (They got married less than six months later, by the way.) "I Hope (Daddy Magic)" is a song that all parents will understand: as a parent, you see your children deal with little frustrations and disappointments -- and you hope these little "tragedies" are the worst things that will ever befall your kids. And "Today's The Day" is a heart-on-your-sleeve revelation of a man's rocky relationship with his father.
These songs were recorded in Nashvilleat The Tracking Room, where everyone from Shania Twain to U2 has recorded. And James was backed on these sessions by a stellar, six-member band: Buddy Hyatt, piano and organ; Jim Hyatt, bass; Danny Parks, electric guitars; Chris Cottros, acoustic guitars; Mike Daly, steel guitar; and Wayne Killius, drums and percussion. And two of the songs -- "Ten Days" and "Today's The Day" -- also feature an amazing string quartet whose arrangements were created by Kristin Wilkinson. Kristin has also arranged and/or played on recordings by Lady Antebellum, Elton John, Brad Paisley, Train, Keith Urban, Darius Rucker, Matchbox 20, Faith Hill, 3 Doors Down, and many others.
The EP was produced by Mark Riddick, and was mastered by the legendary Glenn Meadows, who has mastered or remastered albums by Steely Dan, Shania Twain, Alabama, Dan Fogelberg and many, many others.