James' Meraki Duo with flautist Meera Maharaj were awarded 1st prize in the International Chamber Music Competition for Flute & Guitar, in Spain. They dedicated the prize money towards the recording of their debut album, which has now been released on Delphian Records - click here to listen to Notes from the Living Room - with official Album Launch concerts at Ronnie Scott's, London (7/9/26) and RNCM, Manchester (1/10/26).

Meraki Duo also recently made their live radio broadcast debut, featuring on BBC Radio 3's In Tune with presenter Petroc Trelawny. 

The Scandinavian-British Bridge Quartet James has formed in Oslo brings together compatriot saxophonist Dave Edge and a formidable rhythm section of Danish drummer Emil Norman and Norwegian double bassist Andreas Svabø. Bridge Quartet’s debut project pays tribute to Sonny Rollins' iconic 'The Bridge' record, played in its entirety, alongside selections from Rollins’ quartet's follow-up record ‘What’s New’. After the success of Bridge Quartet's debut England tour in 2025, they return on tour in July 2026: London, Manchester, Ambleside, Newcastle, Leeds following the tour's launch in Oslo.

11-piece Agbeko's latest album,, When the People Say, is due for release 23 October 2026 (vinyl and digital), following their summer Single Launch Tour in support of lead single 'Know How' - named a "belter" by Craig Charles on BBC Radio 6. 

With Agbeko, James had the honour of performing at the opening concert of WOMEX 24 at The Bridgewater Hall as representatives of the band's hometown, Manchester: host to the world's most diverse global-music meeting that year. ​

The Easy Rollers released their studio album ‘...And Another Thing’ in September 2025 to critical acclaim internationally. A culmination of the band's journey to date, it features several originals alongside a selection of reimagined classics and lesser-known gems from the '20s/'30s.

"A deeply informed dive into the world of 1930s swing" - Jazz In Europe

The band's extensive 10th Anniversary Tour in 2026 follows autumn 2025's sold-out London album launch at PizzaExpress Live, Holborn.

In summer 2024, James made his debut in the BBC Proms playing electric guitar in Paraorchestra's world premiere performance of The Virtuous Circle : at Bristol Beacon for 'Proms At...'. Mozart’s Symphony No. 40, combined with dancers in an array of choreographic formations, is delicately threaded together with new compositions from Ivor Novello Award-winner, Oliver Vibrans, which abstract the DNA of Mozart’s opus.

This project reprised at Southbank Centre, London in June 2025.

In July 2024, Delphian Records released an album of new compositions and arrangements by Arthur Keegan setting poetry of Thomas Hardy. RPS' Young Artist of the Year, mezzo Lotte Betts-Dean, is joined by James and Ligeti Quartet. Released to critical acclaim with reviews in The Guardian, Gramophone and BBC Music Magazine, the album entered the official UK charts at No.5 in Specialist Classical, was Presto Music's Record Of The Week, and has featured across various BBC Radio 3 programmes.