INTRODUCING

Duncan James- Jazz Guitarist /Guitar teacher /Jazz Educator

Contact: 415-282-4547 or

E-mail: Sdj4229@aol.com

Duncan James is a jazz, swing and blues guitarist and instructor. He has been teaching guitar since 1964, including four years as adjunct faculty at Lone Mountain College in San Francisco - 1972-76 - and three years as a public school instrumental music teacher in Springfield and Miamisburg, Ohio - 1968-71. He participated in the Bay Area Young Audience Program from 1981-1991 and has been a Jazz Instructor for Guitar Solo of San Francisco since 1986. He is also a mentor for Jazzmasters Workshop having taught three guitar workshops in 2001.  Mr. James holds a Bachelor of Music degree from The Ohio State University and has done post graduate work at Wright State University and Central State University in Ohio.

Performances include work with George Barnes, Howard Alden, Howard Roberts, Bruce Foreman, Tuck Andress, Eartha Kitt, Michael Feinstein, Bernadette Peters, Chet Baker, Bobby McFerrin, Jimmy Witherspoon, Frankie Laine, Bob Hope, Les Brown, Larry Elgart, Nelson Riddle, the San Francisco Symphony,the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra, and the San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, and Russian River Jazz Festivals.

Recording credits include three recordings with George Barnes, including his last recording released in 2003 on www.acousticdisc.com, the Concord Jazz Guitar Collection Vols. 1 and 2 CD, his own trio with vocalist Madeline Eastman, five recordings with Turk Murphy vocalist Pat Yankee and a recording with Full Faith and Credit Big Band . He also has a self produced solo CD, Duncan James Solo Jazz Guitar, and is prominently featured on Jim Rothermel’s CD NeoClassic Swing. The trio, solo, and NeoClassic CD’s are available on this website.

Here is what Guitar Player Magazine had to say about Duncan in the July 2003 issue: "Suave and swinging...a chord-comping master who also turns in impressive solos".

Other selected press:

"James’ elegant guitar brilliance"- Phil Elwood (San Francisco Examiner 01/12/1978)

"Relaxed, easy swing and strong sense of melody"- Jesse Hamlin (SF Chronicle 11/16/1983)

"Enjoyable mainstream playing"- Jesse Hamlin (SF Chronicle 2/12/84)

"an intelligent and skilled mainstream Jazz guitarist"- Derk Richardson (SF Guardian 05/23/1984)

"The great James" - Phil Elwood ( San Francisco Examiner 06/08/1984)

"...beautifully constructed riffs"- M. Flicker (Palo Alto Jazz Alliance Dec. 1992)

"Veteran jazz mainstreamer"- Phil Elwood (SF Examiner 08/21/1995 )

"Outstanding"-Phil Elwood- ( www.jazzwest.com -11/8/2002)

"With flawless timing and intonation, Barnes and Duncan find common ground between the twin fiddles of Texas swing and the smoky horns of Count Basie’s big band."- Andy Ellis - (Guitar Player Magazine July 2003)