An ink jet recording apparatus and method having an ink jet head. The ink jet head includes a housing made of a material having a high coefficient of thermal conductivity, including at least one heat source, and arranged so as to confront a recording medium; an ink holding member arranged inside the housing, the ink holding member transmitting heat generated by the heat source to melt a solid-phase ink put into the housing for holding the molten ink by capillary action; a nozzle formed member being part of the ink holding member and having at least one nozzle orifice arranged so as to confront the recording medium; and a pressure generating member arranged within the ink holding member for generating a pressure which causes ink near the nozzle orifice to jet in the form of ink drops. The ink jet recording method is achieved by the apparatus thus constructed.