Jacob Blickenstaff Making something real of an often-appropriated and mythologized musical style like soul or R&B is no easy task, but James Hunter has a unique ability to express himself through the sounds of the era, not just imitate them—and he only seems to get better at it over time. Hunter, 53, has been whittling away at the essence of these musical forms since his early 20s, when he migrated to London from his hometown of Colchester, England.