Biography

Winner of the Worshipful Company of Musicians Young Jazz Musician of the year (2018) and the Smith-Watkins Trumpet Award (2016), at the Royal Academy of Music, James is now pursuing a busy and varied freelance career based in London. He was lead trumpet in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (2014-2017) and is currently lead trumpet with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and the Patchwork Jazz Orchestra. He also performs regularly with the BBC Big Band, The Syd Lawrence Orchestra, Pete Long’s Echoes of Ellington Orchestra and the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra.

Since graduating with a MA in Jazz Performance at the Royal Academy of Music, James has become a regular lead trumpet deputy in West End Shows including Aladdin, 42nd Street, Book of Mormon, Beautiful, An American in Paris and Guys and Dolls. He has performed with the London Symphony Orchestra and as guest Principal with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hallé Orchestra. James is also a member of the award winning Misha Mullov-Abaddo Group, Jonny Mansfield’s Elftet, the Sam Watts band, The London Jazz Orchestra, Joe Hill’s North Ark, as well as his own band co-led with Callum Au, playing the music of Clark Terry and Bob Brookmeyer.

Musicians’ Company Award: Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2018

Page Updated: July 2019

Photo credit: Tony Brown