James Blackwell’s Street Cred.
James Blackwell is a GRAMMY award winning and multiply nominated trumpet player for his work on the jazz albums of Clare Fischer, Bob Mintzer and the University of North Texas’ One O’clock Lab Band.
While currently an east-coaster, James spent nine years in the Los Angeles jazz community as a dedicated and passionate jazz-lead trumpet player.
During this time he was a member of Bill Holman’s Big Band (dreams do come true), the Clare Fischer Big Band and the Mike Barone Big Band. He also performed regularly as a member of Johnny Mandel’s Big Band and Terry Gibb’s Dream Band as these outfits typically featured Bill Holman’s trumpet section.
You can hear James’ lead and section playing on the most recent albums released by Mike Barone (‘Birdland’ and ‘La Fiesta’), the Clare Fischer Latin Jazz Big Band (‘¡Ritmo!’ and ‘¡Intenso!’), Bob Mintzer’s ‘All LA Big Band’ as well as a score of other jazz-related projects recorded during this time.
Apart from his work as a jazz lead player, James has performed as the lead trumpet player with the Brian Setzer Orchestra since 2012. This tenure currently includes seven ‘Christmas Rocks!’ tours along with two stints in Japan.
Along with all this cool big band stuff, James also cut his teeth playing a million chop-bashing live gigs both up on stage and down in the pit (as we do). And oh yeah, he’s the featured soloist for the theme to Amazon Prime’s hit show, “Bosch.”
As a student, James received degrees from the University of North Texas (where he recorded five albums with the internationally recognized One O’clock Lab Band – the last two as the lead trumpet player) and the University of Southern California (playing lead trumpet in the Thornton Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Bob Mintzer). He’s studied with (and annoyed) the best of the best in the trumpet-playing community and cherishes all of his amazing mentors.
These playing experiences – along with the many ups and downs of trumpet playing – shaped James into a passionate educator who’s mission to encourage his fellow players and help them learn what it takes to play well and have fun. These lessons were learned through the blood, sweat and tears of three embouchure changes and having to rehabilitate severe overuse issues multiple times throughout his career (some people are destined to learn the hard way).
This complicated, life-long relationship with the trumpet brought BTB (and its corresponding YouTube channel) into existence. And along with these humble efforts, you can also hear James blabbing on about all things musical as a regular contributor to the International Trumpet Guild (ITG) and as a guest artist and clinician for anyone that will have him.
Most recently, James is trying (unsuccessfully) to take it easier on his chops and is living with his family in Lancaster, Pennsylvania while bopping around the east coast.
If you’d like to stay up to date with James and BTB’s ever-growing collection of original learning materials, be sure to sign-up for the email list.
And until next time, happy trumpeting.
Interested in studying with this James Blackwell guy? Check out his online lesson studio here.