teacher profile

Personal Statement/Background

James has preformed professionally for 28 years, with extensive experience in upright and electric bass. He studied at DePaul University's School of Jazz Music and privately with Larry Gray, who plays bass with Ramsey Lewis. As a "jobbing musician", he has done radio jingles, studio session work, a great deal of pit work and many orchestral performances, including Chicago's Orchestra Hall and several seasons with The Paducah Symphony Orchestra. His long-term band experiences include swing with The Riff Rockets, The Rhythm Rockets, The Rockafellers, blues with the Convulsions, Phil Baron, Barrelhouse Chuck and Pinetop Perkins, pop-rock with Burnt Toast, Selective Recall and JP and the Cats as well as countless jazz groups including Bob Mintzer, The Tom Sorich Trio and The Tom Costanzo Trio. James has also played country, zydeco and rock-a-billy with bands such as The Big Guitars from Memphis, The Delta Rhythm Kings, Guy Lawerence and Chydeco Zydeco, Peaches and Will Crosby. He has been nominated for a Handy Award with Nick Moss and the Flip Tops, a touring blues band that plays regularly at Buddy Guy's Legends and The House of Blues. He currently has professional endorsement deals with Lakland, Gallien-Krueger, Bag End and Rotosound.

Education

DePaul University Chicago