THE NUTSHELL JAZZ CLUB: Out Front
book tickets.
book tickets.
No lift access to performance studio.
No refunds or exchanges on tickets purchased.EVENT DETAILS
Thursday 18 June 2026
£25, £13 Students
8pm (doors 7pm)
With a technical fluidity on his instrument, and strong connection to various forms of improvised music, James has built a reputation as one of the most in demand bassists in the country, drawing on his many influences to develop a sound that is stylish, virtuosic and captivating. “His tone big and resonant, his time keeping immaculate and his solos highly dexterous and consistently engaging” (The Jazz Mann). His extensive performance CV shows collaborations with notable artists such as Paul Dunmall, Jay Phelps, Mark Lockett, Neil Yates, Roger Manins, Xhosa Cole, Alex Clarke, Greg Abate, and many more.
With firm roots in bebop and the jazz tradition, James is heavily influenced by Ray Brown, Charles Mingus, Oscar Pettiford, Charlie Haden, and other pioneering bassists, as well as current greats including Larry Grenadier and Robert Landferman. He draws inspiration from modern and contemporary music, as well as his experience on the free improv scene, in his approach to improvising and writing music. In 2018, James was a finalist in the BBC Young Jazz Musician Award, performing at the Queen-Elizabeth Hall with Gwilym Simcock and Asaf Sirkis.
The past 2-3 years have seen James step forward as a band leader, composing for a variety of ensembles. After touring with his trio in Autumn 2023, he started focusing on his quartet for which he wrote the suite of music ‘Songs from an Imaginary Childhood’. This music was a commission from the Jazz Central Mentorship Programme and features Alex Western-King (Saxophone), Nick Manz (Piano) and Matthew Holmes (Drums). The compositions took inspiration from the juxtaposition of seeing the world from a child’s perspective and that of an adult’s, focusing on specific examples personal to James. This music was recorded in 2024 and is set to be released as James’s first record as a leader in 2026.
THE NUTSHELL JAZZ CLUB
Join us on the third Thursday of every month* for an evening of Jazz, delicious food (bring your own / order in) and drinks a plenty in an intimate cabaret style setting.
In partnership with Winchester Jazz Festival and Alex Western-King we will host some of the UK’s best Jazz musicians on The Nutshell stage.
*please check dates as due to holiday season we will occassionally shift from the third Thursday!