Jim

(he/him)

Jim teaches all levels of piano

Jim has had quite the storied career as a performer and brings a unique and well-rounded perspective as a teacher. He started playing by ear at 10, begging his parents for lessons, and then studied piano through high school, playing in local rock bands from the age of 13 on.

At 20, he began study at Berklee College of Music, where his classmates and session partners included Wallace Roney, Greg Osby, Donald Harrison, Tim “Bone” Williams, Jeff Watts, Gene Jackson, Frank Lacy, Jean Toussaint, Brandord Marsalis, and many other future luminaries. He also studied privately with the great jazz pianist Jaki Byard.

After his time at Berklee, he remained in Boston as a performer before moving to New Jersey and receiving his Bachelor’s at Rutgers University. After graduating, he became a Principal Pianist for the Rutgers Dance Department and continued to perform locally.

Moving to New York City in 2000, Jim worked as a pianist for esteemed dance companies Alvin Ailey and Mark Morris, in addition to performing as a freelance session musician in various genres and functions. His credits include longstanding collaborations with greats like The Steve Kimock Band, master drummer/producer/composer Rodney Holmes, and Afrobeat sensation Kaleta. With Kaleta, he appeared on the album “Country of Guns.” His first album album as a producer is called “Stone Church.”

As a teacher, Jim’s many years playing and accompanying in such a wide range of genres has given him quite the diverse perspective. His approach to lessons is calm and engaging, and crafts lessons that are informative, interesting, and enjoyable!