The James Christopher Band

JAMES CHRISTOPHER

GUITARIST / WRITER / ARRANGER

James was raised in Chicago. His musical education started at seven years old with three years of organ lessons. He then picked up the guitar at age ten. He took lessons from every guitar player within walking distance of his home. By the end of junior high school he was performing in the Chicago area club scene, mostly rock and blues.

At sixteen James got the opportunity to sit in with JOHN MAYALL at a Chicago hot spot. He later went to Boston to study Jazz at BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC. He studied with trumpeter Mike Methany and guitarist Mike Stern." My favorite Boston story is : John Scofield was in town playing at a small club. I got there early so that I could get a good seat. After a while I turned around and realized the club was packed. Every guitar player in Boston was there. Kevin Eubanks, Steve Vai, Mike Stern and every Berklee guitar instructor. I had to leave a little early and I was running back to my dorm room, turned a corner, and crashed right into Pat Methany. He was on his way to see John. No one was hurt but what a way to meet one of your guitar heros. "

James returned to Chicago and studied with the great Willie Pickens at THE AMERICAN CONSERVITORY OF MUSIC. He performed with many local artists such as Kevin and Kelly Lewis, sons of jazz great “ RAMSEY LEWIS”. James played 5 years in THE VALLEY JAZZ ENSEMBLE, a 16 piece contemporary big band, under the direction of JOHN BLAINE. He also co-wrote a Coca Cola jingle (ah the Bahamas) and some cable TV themes. James also performed with such renowned artists as BEN E. KING and BOBBY VINTON. " I was very influenced by west coast guitar players. Lee Ritenour and Larry Carlton and I loved the sound of a Gibson ES 335 guitar. I was also influenced by a couple of sax players,Tom Scot and David Sanborn. My music shares the spotlight between guitar and sax. The Tunes are song oriented without the long two chord vamp solos. On a CD you can be restricted from strechin it out. But when we play live everyone gets to cut loose and open it up. That's always fun.

In 1990, James left Chicago and moved to the Los Angeles area. He played guitar on, and co-wrote the music to “REAL FANTASIES”, a video that aired 3 years on cable television. After doing session work and playing in a few rock and jazz bands, James put together his music and created his own band. completed his debut recording " BRING IT HOME ". Released April 2006 DISTRIBUTED BY " CD BABY .COM

THE JAMES CHRISTOPHER BAND was the 2005 winner of the Century City Records / Rainbow Promotions Jazz Star Search and was invited to perform at The 2005 LONG BEACH JAZZ FESTIVAL,
James Christopher ~ Office: (562) 498-9314 ~ Cell: (562) 212-0065
Long Beach, CA ~ jamescg1@earthlink.net
purchase " BRING IT HOME" WWW.CDBABY.COM