James was born in Adelaide, South Australia
in 1974 to musical parents. He became interested in music at an
early age and began playing the guitar at the age of 12. Initially
inspired by rock music of the sixties and seventies his love of
jazz took over at the age of 16. Two years later James was gigging
in the working band of renowned clarinetist/saxophonist Andrew
Firth with whom he stayed until 1994.
After working with the cream of Adelaide’s jazz and rock
musicians James relocated to Sydney in the summer of 1996, where
he quickly became one of the most in-demand guitarists in the
country.
He has played and/or recorded with:
Vince Jones, James Morrison, Dale Barlow, Mike Nock, Renee
Geyer, Bernie McGann, Don Burrows, Mark Isaacs, Sean Wayland,
Steve Hunter and Scott Tinkler as well as international artists
Chad Wackerman, Bill Stewart, Vinnie Colaiuta, Adam Nussbaum,
Jay Anderson, Steve Tavaglione, Maria Schneider, Tim Ries, Tony
Moncao, Donny McCaslin, Bob Sheppard, Matt Pendman and Jochen
Rueckert.
James has recorded 4 CD’s under his own name. The second,
“All Out” won an ARIA award for best jazz album in
2000 and the third, “Thrum” was nominated for the
same award in 2002.
In 2000 James was co-winner of the National Jazz Awards held
at the Wangaratta Jazz Festival and in 2001 won two Mo awards
for best jazz instrumentalist and best jazz group.
As well as performing nationally, James has made several successful
tours to Europe including with the Chad Wackerman band in 2000
and theTheaktet in 2001 and 2004.
James recently won an APRA award for most performed jazz work
2003, and also won the 2004 Freedman Fellowship (Jazz).
