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James White 1981, SO 36, Berlin

James Chance aka James White (born April 20, 1953 as James Siegfried in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is an American saxophonist, songwriter and singer.

A key figure in No Wave, Chance has been playing a combination of improvisational jazz-like music and punk in the New York music scene since the late 1970s, in such bands as Teenage Jesus & the Jerks, James Chance and the Contortions, James White and the Blacks, The Flaming Demonics, James Chance & the Sardonic Symphonics, and James Chance and Terminal City.

Chance differed from some of his No Wave compatriots by possessing (and demanding from his band) a certain level of musical skill and talent. His music is frequently described as combining the freeform playing of Ornette Coleman with the solid funk rhythm of James Brown, though filtered through a punk rock lens. Simon Reynolds, author of Rip It Up and Start Again : Postpunk 1978-1984, wrote:

And although "affection" is possibly an odd word to use in reference to a bunch of nihilists, I do feel fond of the No Wave people. James Chance's music actually stands up really well, I think. (Listen to James Chance & the Contortions, "Contort Yourself," 1979.) [1]

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Chance moved to New York City in 1977. He quickly became active in both the free jazz and punk rock scenes.

While Chance was professionally and romantically linked with No Wave musical luminary Lydia Lunch, the duo created seminal No Wave group Teenage Jesus & The Jerks; then after Chance left the group in 1978 due to professional differences, Chance went on to form the Contortions and James White and the Blacks (Lunch appeared on the album Off White as "Stella Rico").

Chance's stage and musical persona were finalized by romantic partner and agent Anya Philips, who died of cancer in 1981. The James White and the Blacks album Sax Maniac (1982) was dedicated to Philips; the group released one more album, Melt Yourself Down, a very limited Japanese release.

Chance was noted for engaging in physical confrontations, from pushing contests to fisticuffs, with his audience, including rock critic Robert Christgau [2]. This practice is reported to have somewhat diminished after audiences came to expect the physical confrontations, so Chance saw no reason to continue.

Frictions between Chance and band members led to a breakup of the Contortions in the fall of 1979. Aiming for a truer funk sound, Chance continued with a mix of black and white musicians and his bands went through numerous incarnations, touring and recording under the name James White and the Blacks until the mid 1980s. The first line-up of the Blacks was set-up by Joseph Bowie. Shortly after Defunkt emerged out of the Blacks. Subsequently Chance withdrew from public visibility for over a decade, before reappearing in the mid-1990s.

In 2001, Chance reunited with original Contortions members Jody Harris (guitar), Pat Place (slide guitar) and Don Christensen (drums) for a few limited engagements. Original keyboard player Adele Bertei appeared briefly, but bass player George Scott had died of an accidental drug overdose in 1980 and his slot was filled by Eric Sanko. The reunited group has played twice at the All Tomorrow's Parties music festival, and Chance has recorded with Blondie since coming out of his semi-retirement.

In addition to limited engagements with the original Contortions, Chance occasionally performs and records with the Chicago band Watchers. In Europe he performs with James Chance & Les Contorsions, French musicians who have been his backing band since 2006. They played a 15 show Europe tour in April and May 2007 and will be back in Europe in October 2007.

Chance appears on the video release James Chance - Chance of A Lifetime: Live in Chicago 2003 backed by the Chicago band Watchers.

• No New York (compilation Antilles 1978)
• Buy (ZE-Arista 1979)
• Theme from Grutzi Elvis (EP ZE 1979)
• Off White (ZE-Buddah 1979)
• Second Chance (ZE-PVC 1980)
• Live aux Bains Douches (Fr. Invisible 1980)
• Live in New York (cassette tape ROIR 1981)
• Sax Maniac (Animal 1982)
• The Flaming Demonics (ZE-Island 1983)
• Melt Yourself Down (Selfish Records Japan 1986)
• Soul Exorcism (tape ROIR 1991)
• Lost Chance (ROIR 1995)
• No Exit (Blondie album), Blondie guest artist, alto sax (Beyond Records 1999)
• White Cannibal (ROIR 2000)
• Christmas with Satan (single Tiger Style 2002)
• Irresistible Impulse (retrospective Tiger Style 2003)
• Sax Education (2004)
• James Chance & Terminal City - Get Down and Dirty! (Wind bell 4 2005)
• Rabble Watchers (guest artist) (Gern Blandsten 2006)
• Vampire Driver Watchers (guest artist) (Gern Blandsten 2006)

• Downtown 81 (1981)
• Somewhere in the City (1998)
• James Chance - Chance of A Lifetime: Live in Chicago 2003 (RUNT 2005)
• TV Party (2005)
• Acoustic Ladyland - Skinny Grin (2006)

• Discography