James Senese

Gaetano "James" Senese (6 January 1945 – 29 October 2025) was an Italian saxophonist, composer, actor and singer-songwriter.Enzo Giannelli. "Senese, James". Gino Castaldo (ed.). Dizionario della canzone italiana. Curcio Editore, 1990. He was born in Naples, Italy. His career began in the 1960s as a member of the rhythm and blues band The Showmen. 

In 1974 Senese co-founded and led the jazz-progressive rock group Napoli Centrale. After the group broke-up in 1978, he started performing with James Brown, Ornette Coleman, Gil Evans, Art Ensemble of Chicago and Roberto De Simone. His first solo album was released in 1983 by Polydor Records.

Senese played himself in the 1982 comedy movie No Thanks, Coffee Makes Me Nervous. He also had a small role in the 2000 comedy movie Zora the Vampire. A documentary movie about Senese, James, was released in 2020 at the 77th Venice Film Festival.

Senese died on 29 October 2025 at a hospital in Naples from problems caused by pneumonia at the age of 80.

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Category:1945 births
Category:2025 deaths
Category:Deaths from pneumonia
Category:Italian singer-songwriters
Category:Italian jazz musicians
Category:Italian composers
Category:Italian movie actors
Category:Saxophonists
Category:Actors from Naples
Category:Musicians from Naples
Category:Singers from Naples
Category:Writers from Naples
Category:Disease-related deaths in Italy