Guitarist
A R R A N G I N G
James is in-demand as an arranger of classical, jazz and crossover repertoire. His arrangements have been published, recorded and performed internationally.
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In recent years, he was commissioned by composer-saxophonist Andy Scott to arrange for flute and guitar a number of Scott's popularly performed works, which were originally composed for settings including saxophone and vibraphone, flute and harp, tuba with brass band, and clarinet ensemble. These include sonata 'Nemesis', 'And Everything Is Still...', 'Paquito' and 'Fujiko', which were published by Astute Music in 2022.
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James was commissioned by jazz singer Jacqui Dankworth and Craig Ogden to write arrangements of jazz standards and popular songs, which they toured widely. A selection from these was recorded in 2024 by Lotte Betts-Dean and Dimitris Soukaras on Delphian Records, UK Jazz News describing 'A House Is Not A Home' (Bacharach) as "heart rending [...] distinguished by a beautiful, yearning guitar solo".
"Exquisite”
- Jacqui Dankworth
If you are interested in James' arranging services, by all means get in touch:
"Kaleidoscopic interplay”
- Gramophone
Orchestrally, he has arranged on multiple occasions for The Hallé, arrangements which have also been performed and broadcast by RTÉ Concert Orchestra. Aquarelle Guitar Quartet with vocalist/pianist/cellist Sara Dowling commissioned & recorded James' arrangement of 'Bebê', by the late Hermeto Pascoal, for their forthcoming album 'Latin Connections' on Chandos Records.
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For guitar and voice, James has arranged a collection of classical songs by Federico García Lorca, Fernando Obradors and Carlos Guastavino, whose original piano parts' hispanic character lends itself to the Spanish guitar. Additionally, for guitar and flute, he has arranged Messaien's '5 Leçons de Solfege', pieces by William Grant Still, a selection of Chick Corea's 'Children's Songs', Dominique Le Gendre's 'Songs and Dances of the Islands Suite, and Quarteto Novo recordings, all performed extensively by the Meraki Duo.
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James is in-house arranger for UK jazz septet The Easy Rollers, arranging half of their 2025 album '... And Another Thing': described by Jazz In Europe as "a deeply informed dive into the world of 1930s swing and early jazz".