School Daze...
James spent his days at DePaul University's School of Music and studied classical piano with Mary Sauer from the Chicago Symphony. At night, he played Jazz deep into the night. James didn't get much sleep during his undergraduate college life, but he learned how to play and was challenged every night to "hang" on stage with the top musicians in Chicago.
Grammy Time
While still in Chicago, James got a call to play Piano/ Keyboards on The Winans Grammy Winning Recording "All Out". He also recorded on numerous Multi-platinum R&B recordings during this period.
Chicago Music - "Bring it or get off the stage!"
Amazing training ground to learn the fundamentals regardless of the musical style - Jazz, Blues, or Funk. James learned how play "in the pocket" and loved getting locked in the groove with other great players. He had the opportunity to learn from some of the most amazing musicians ever to walk the planet including Lin Halliday, Von Freeman (New Apartment Lounge), Ira Sullivan, Bobby Broom, Richard Patterson, Daryl Jones, Larry Novak (and his son, Gary), Brad Goode, Dennis Carrol, Jodie Christian just to name a few. James spent a lot of his time at Joe Segal's Jazz Showcase in the Roosevelt Hotel where New York musicians would rotate through Chicago weekly. James made a deal with the club owner to go almost overnight without paying the $25 daily cover charge. It was a daily Jazz lesson where he heard the top pianists in the world such as Mulgrew Miller, Kenny Barron, Cedar Walton, Randy Weston, Kenny Kirkland, James Williams, Benny Green, Barry Harris and many more. Chicago formed his musical foundation.
L.A. Scene
James spent 8 years as one of the top "on call" session keyboard players in Los Angeles performing on Movie Soundtracks, Commercial Recordings, Road Tours and Studio sessions with the top Pop/ R&B artists, working the local LA Jazz Clubs (LaVaLee & The Baked Potato). James even played the occasional Celebrity Wedding or Barmitzvah to make ends meet. Los Angeles was truly a musical zoo - a zoo without cages...crazy times.