Name James Emery | Role Musician | |
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Albums James Emery Septet: Spectral Domains, Transformations, Standing on the Whale Similar People John Lindberg, Marty Ehrlich, Billy Bang, Leroy Jenkins, Regina Carter | ||
James Emery (born December 21, 1951) is an American jazz guitarist.
Contents
Career
Emery's parents were musicians. His father played trumpet, and his mother played piano. Emery started on organ when he was six. A few years later, he began classical guitar lessons.
He had a job at a music store run by guitarist Bill DeArango, and during free time they practiced together. At the end of the 1960s, he went to college at Cleveland State University, where he concentrated on composition and music theory. He also studied composition at City University of New York during the 1980s.
In the early 1970s, Emery moved to New York City and was a teacher at the Creative Music Studio. He toured with the Human Arts Ensemble and worked with Karl Berger, Anthony Braxton, and Leroy Jenkins.
In 1977, he started the String Trio of New York with Billy Bang and John Lindberg and has been a member for over thirty years, recording more than fifteen albums, and touring throughout the U.S. and the world. Emery has written over hundred compositions for the avant-garde Trio and for symphony orchestras, chamber groups, and solo guitar. During his career, he has worked with Ed Blackwell, Dave Holland, Joe Lovano, Steve Reich, Sam Rivers, and John Zorn. He has led groups with Thurman Barker, Robert Dick, Marty Ehrlich, Michael Formanek, Gerry Hemingway, J. D. Parran, and Ed Schuller.
Emery plays acoustic guitar, semi-acoustic guitar, and tenor guitar.
As leader
With the String Trio of New York
As sideman
With Anthony Braxton