Biography
TROMBONIST-IMPROVISER-COMPOSER-EDUCATOR
After his seventeen-year worldwide touring stint with the US Army
Jazz Ambassadors, Jim retired from the military in 1998 to find a variety of projects
awaiting him.
As a freelance musician, he has performed in an incredibly
diverse array of situations.
These included a 3-year run with
Chuck Brown
Washington, DC's "Godfather of Go-Go" and appearances with the Baltimore
Symphony Pops Orchestra, the critically acclaimed Great American Music
Ensemble, and the Kennedy Center Orchestra.
Jim's recording credits include a 2008 Latin Grammy Award with Dave Samuels (best Latin Jazz recording), a recent release as a co-leader on the Dreambox Media label with Denis DiBlasio, scores of projects as a featured soloist
as well as national television spots.
Currently, Jim is a member of the internationally renowned
Capitol Bones
and their larger counterpart, the Capitol Bones Big Band.
Jim has appeared on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" with Thievery
Corporation, a DC-based techno band, and continues to perform extensively
throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.
Today, Jim is in great demand as both a trombonist and educator. He has
performed and recorded with a veritable "who's who" of jazz luminaries
to include Dave Liebman, Geoff Keezer, Denis DiBlasio, Slide Hampton, Ingrid Jensen,
Clark Terry, Jim Ridl, Gary Thomas, Christian McBride, Michael Feinstein, Ron Blake, Dave
Samuels, Jeff Coffin, Carl Fontana, Jon Faddis, and Toots Thielemans.
Jim's unique style of teaching - combining enthusiasm, motivation,
inspiration and humor - helps create an environment where students are
eager to learn and unafraid to take chances. This approach helps keep
Jim busy year-round connecting musically with students of all ages.
In addition to his hectic performance and travel schedule, Jim is a full-time
member of the Jazz and Commercial Music Studies faculty at
Towson University,
and serves on the faculty of numerous summer jazz camps.
As well as guest conducting county, district, and all-state jazz
ensembles in the Mid-Atlantic region, he also appears at high
schools and colleges throughout the country as a
Buffet Crampon/Antoine Courtois
performer and education specialist and plays Courtois trombones exclusively.
"Without music, life would be a mistake." - Nietzsche