Barry James’ musical career spans over 50 years as a
percussionist with jazz groups, show bands, and symphony
orchestras. He is recognized as a nationally respected teacher,
performer, and clinician. Many of his students now perform
professionally around the world. He has taught percussion
instruments as well as music theory, composition, and
arranging at the Boston School of
Music, and for the last 20 years
in Orlando, FL.
Mr. James has performed and
recorded with the Boston Pops
Orchestra and noted artists such
as Gloria Estefan and the Miami
Sound Machine, Andy Williams,
Roberta Flack, Tony Bennett,
Ray Charles, Jack Jones, Steve
Lawrence and Edie Gorme. He
has also performed with Johnny
Mathis, Arthur Prysock, Della
Reese, Lena Horne, Mark Murphy, Don Costa, the Woody
Herman Orchestra, Up With People, and several national
touring Broadway shows.
He has also recorded two albums with his own ensembles. The
National Association of Music Educators honored his first
recording with the Best Jazz Album of The Year award. Barry
served as a staff arranger/composer for NBC television for two
years. He is a graduate of Boston University School of Fine and
Applied Arts, with further studies at the Berklee College of
Music. He studied percussion instruments under the world-
renowned teachers George Lawrence Stone and Alan Dawson.
He also studied composition and orchestration under Jaki
Byard.
Barry served for two years as President of the Central Florida
Musicians Association. He has negotiated contracts locally on
behalf of professional musicians with Disney and the Bob Carr
Broadway Series. He was musical director of “Bill White’s
Salute to Louis Armstrong”, an 18 piece jazz ensemble. He has
been recognized as the organizer of the national program “Jazz
for Jerry’s Kids,” annual fund raising concerts to benefit the
Muscular Dystrophy Association.
He has written a drum method book with world-renowned
drummer Joe Morello, entitled “Drum Lessons With George
Lawrence Stone.” The book is dedicated to their teacher, George
Lawrence Stone. Barry continues to be an active performer
around the Central Florida area with his band,
The MasterSounds.
BARRY JAMES’
BIOGRAPHY
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