Jim Mair (musician)

James Christopher Mair (born May 22, 1966) is a soprano, alto, and tenor saxophonist, flautist, percussionist, singer, and teacher born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Contents

• Recordings
• Awards
• Grants
• References

Mair was raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba and graduated from Silver Heights Collegiate in 1984. That same year his jazz quintet won top high school combo in Canada and he was selected lead tenor in the Canadian High School All Star Jazz Ensemble.

Mair graduated from the University of Mary (Bismarck, North Dakota) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education (1988) and the University of Missouri at Kansas City Conservatory of Music with a Master of Arts degree in Music(1990). He did additional studies at the Banff Summer School of Fine Arts 1988 and at the Aspen Music Festival 1989. He has studied with Loran Eckroth, University of Mary, Bismarck, ND 1984-1988, Scott Prebys, University of Mary, Bismarck, ND 1984-1988, Tim Timmons University of Missouri at Kansas City 1988-1990, and Gary Foster and Michael Parkinson, University of Missouri at Kansas City 1988-1990.

Jim has served on the faculty at the College of Southern Idaho, the International Music Camp, and the Charlie Parker Academy of the Arts. In addition, he has served as a staff writer for the Saxophone Journal and since 1992 has served as an artist/clinician for the Selmer Instrument Company. Mair has conducted the North Dakota, South Dakota (twice) and Idaho All-State Jazz Ensembles (twice) and the Kansas City All District Jazz Band (six times). While teaching in Idaho from 1995 to 1999 his radio show "Table Down Front" was broadcast across the northwest on NPR affiliates. His performance credits include appearances at the Havana, Cuba Jazz Festival, New York City JVC Jazz Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, IAJE Convention, Carnegie Recital Hall, Birdland and Showman's Cafe in New York City and the Duchin Room in Sun Valley, Idaho.

Jim Mair is currently a Professor of Music and Director of Instrumental Music and Jazz Studies at Kansas City Kansas Community College. In December 2014, his college big band performed at the 30th annual Havana Jazz Festival in Cuba. He also serves as the Artistic Director for The Kansas City Jazz Alliance, The Kansas City Youth Jazz Orchestras, The Kansas City Jazz Quintet and is the producer of The Kansas City Jazz Summit which includes the annual Basically Basie Competition. From 2003 -2010 he served as the Artistic Director and conductor for The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, a performance organization that he and his wife Mary co-founded.

In 2013 Jim was selected as the Outstanding Faculty member at Kansas City Kansas Community College receiving the Henry Louis Teaching Excellence Award. In early 2014 Jim was the KCKCC recipient of the League for Innovation John & Suanne Roueche Teaching Excellence Award. In 2015, he was awarded an Honorary degree from the University of Western London's London College of Music for his contributions to jazz education both in North America and in the United Kingdom. In 2017 he received the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance Alumni of the Year award.

Jim and Mary have two children, Amanda and Jameson