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. 
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