Jim’s musical training includes majoring in music for two years at the University of California at Santa Barbara and as a student at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara. As a bass trombonist, he has played in brass chamber groups throughout college, the San Diego Symphony Brass Quintet and numerous other semi-professional groups.
His activities as a music director includes two college productions of Guys and Dolls and the Three Penny Opera. He directed the Baltimore Big Band on its Netherlands tour, and served as Associate Conductor for the Dunedin Concert Band for 8 years. In Baltimore MD he founded and directed the Starvation Army Band, a New Orleans jazz’swing group for 13 years. The group has continued playing for over 30 years.
His current daytime job is as a scientist and Professor at the School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida in Tampa.