James began playing classical guitar at age 7. He attended the QLD Conservatorium of Music, studying classical guitar and graduated in 1992. James moved to Melbourne in 93' and is currently based in Brisbane. James was the winner of the Ike Isaacs International Jazz Guitar Award (1997) and was nominated for the Freedman Fellowship in 2005 He has worked with a variety of bands and soloists, including Barney McAll, Scott Tinkler, Ken Edie, Dale Barlow, Sheila Jordan, Bernie McGann, Simon Barker, Brett Hirst, Ingrid Jensen, Steve Newcomb, Joe Chindamo, Allan Browne, Jim Kelly and Doug DeVries. As well as playing or recording with such diverse artists as British guitar virtuoso Martin Taylor, The Australian Chamber Orchestra, The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, The Queensland Orchestra, Katie Noonan & New York film composer Howard Shore. The James Sherlock Trio is featured in the ABC TV Jazz Series "The Pulse". James is currently teaching guitar at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music & Queensland University of Technology. James plays a custom Hancock Archtop – “The James Sherlock Classic.” and a custom amplifier made by Paul Pallister. Reviews Kevin Jones - Weekend Australian, Nov 2001 "The highlights of the recent national jazz series, The Pulse, shown on ABC TV, were the world class performances of three Melbourne musicians...(one of which was) guitarist James Sherlock. Warm and relaxed, Sherlock may favour the so called traditional guitar sound, but his fertile melodic and harmonic imagination make him a guitarist to be reckoned with.......(Southwall) is exhilarating and exciting jazz" Leon Gettler- The Age Green Guide, Sep 2001 "Another mega-hip release from Joe Camilleri's label. Behind the sense of release and abandon, lie meticulously crafted arrangements. Sherlock has an electrifying Bensonish fluency, he can sound lyrical and flowing....in other passages it's all fluid heat." Martin Leslie - Libretto, April 2001 "The James Sherlock Trio swings and how! What a gift he has! A depth of talent far beyond his years. To hear him perform is to experience everything that is sweet and good about guitar music" Peter Jordan - Rolling Stone Magazine, July 99 "Sherlock's highly developed rhythmic & melodic sense gives the material bite & lifts it out of the predictable" Adrian Jackson - Rhythms, Australia May 1999 "A hard swinging guitarist, his playing overflows with energy and ideas. A thoroughly enjoyable album" Kenny Weir - Sunday Herald Sun, Jan 1999 "Guitarist James Sherlock's flying fingers and magnificent musicality have been turning heads in Melbourne for so long that listening to his debut album comes across as a distinctly overdue pleasure". Drum Media - Australia, March 1999 "He articulates a thrilling & restlessly inventive jazz vision. His improvisations have a confident, glowing touch & the empathic band work is often thrilling. Hot. Very hot" Festival appearances • The Wangaratta Jazz Festival • The Melbourne International Jazz Festival • The Queenscliffe Music Festival • The Monsalvaat Jazz Festival • The Apollo Bay Music Festival • The Sanctuary Cove Jazz Festival • The Noosa Jazz Festival • The Paynesville Music Festival • The Bellingen Jazz Festival * The Townsville Jazz Festival • The Christchurch Jazz Festival (NZ) • The Huntington Festival * The Mackay Arts Festival • The Power House Festival * The Valley Jazz Festival Recordings 1998 Debut Album released on Jazzhead Records 1999 Volume Two independently released 2001 “Southwall” James Sherlock Quintet - Jazzhead 2006 “Watermark” James Sherlock Quartet - Pinnacles Jazztrack Recordings -1997 (trio) and 2001 (quintet) and 2005 (Quartet), live at Bennetts Lane. Live to air broadcast for PBSFM 2001 With other artists • The West End Composer's Collective "Downstream" • Movin & Groovin Orchestra“ Big Bands are Back • The Pulse" Taken from the ABC Jazz Series • Nichaud Fitzgibbon "After Hours" • Melbourne International Jazz Festival compilation • Nichaud Fitzgibbon "Deep in the Night" • Bailey’s Melbourne Jazz Festival compilation • Joe Camilleri “ New Craze” • Javabubbagoogaloo" Jazzhead compilation • Michelle Nicolle – “Misterioso” • Jazzhead 2001, 2002, 2005 compilations • Dirty But Happy – Self titled • Dubble Dub – “Deadly Headly” • Movin & Groovin Orchestra – “I’ve Never Been to Cuba” • Melbourne Symphony Orchestra – Two Film Scores Email – james@jamessherlock.com Web – http://www.jamessherlock.com