Remembering James Senese: A Pioneer of the Neapolitan Sound
Italian saxophonist, composer, and singer-songwriter James Senese passed away on Wednesday at the age of 80, leaving behind a legacy that spans multiple genres, including jazz, rock, soul, and funk. Senese’s death was met with an outpouring of tributes from fellow musicians and fans, who remembered him as a true pioneer of the Neapolitan Sound.
Senese was admitted to the intensive care unit of the Cardarelli Hospital in Naples last month, where he reportedly died of a lung infection. His passing has sent shockwaves through the music community, with many taking to social media to pay their respects. Fellow Neapolitan saxophonist Enzo Avitabile wrote: “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.”
Life and Career
Senese was born on January 6, 1945, in Naples to a Neapolitan woman, Anna Senese, and an American soldier, James Smith, who was deployed in the southern Italian city during World War II. After his father returned to the United States, Senese grew up in the Miano suburb of Naples, where he began playing the saxophone at the age of 12. He made his professional debut in the 1960s with the rhythm and blues band The Showmen, which later became Showmen 2.
In 1974, Senese co-founded and led the jazz-rock group Napoli Centrale with Franco Del Prete. The band became a key part of the “Neapolitan Power” movement, forging a unique “Napoli Sound” by blending jazz, funk, blues, and Neapolitan traditional music. After the group disbanded in 1978, Senese began a long collaboration with fellow musician Pino Daniele, who passed away in 2015.
Napoli Sound and Legacy
Senese’s work with Napoli Centrale and his subsequent solo career helped to define the Neapolitan Sound, a genre that blended traditional Neapolitan music with international styles. His notable works include the albums Napoli Centrale, Mattanza, and Hey James. Senese was also 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. 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”. For more information on James Senese’s life and career, visit Here