Piano Teacher

James Cross

Piano Lessons from WAAPA Graduate

James Cross, Bmus (jazz), is a versatile and accomplished musician based in Perth, Western Australia. He received a Bachelor of Jazz Performance (Trombone) from the WA Academy of Performing Arts in 2013, where he studied under world renowned saxophonist Jamie Oehlers. James is a talented soloist in the jazz idiom, but has also spent countless hours on stage and in the studio with funk, rock, indie, salsa, samba, jazz and hip hop groups, and is renowned around Australia for being an adaptable and flexible musician.

James has played and recorded with music legends such as Kate Ceberano (with the Perth International Jazz Festival All Star Big Band), Tony award winning Broadway star Faith Prince (NYC), Australia’s very own Phantom of the Opera – Anthony Warlow, Drapht, Meg Mac, Ed Neumeister (Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra), Fred Wesley (James Brown Band), The Cape Town Opera Company’s “Voices of the Nation” choir, Jim McNeely (Vanguard Jazz Orchestra), Darcy James Argue, Frank Tortillier, Alison Wedding and Jim Rotondi, Nueva Salsa Orchestra, Oz Big Band, Samba Social Club, Hang on St. Christopher (supporting Matt Corby), Coin Banks (Groovin’ The Moo Festival), Marksman, and Optamus, as well as Australian jazz greats Jamie Oehlers, Troy Roberts, Dave Theak, Carl Mackey, Matt Jodrell, Chris Greive, Ben Vanderwall, Tim Wilson, James Sandon, Pete Jeavons and Chris Tarr. James has also recorded live on ABC Radio several times from both the Perth Concert Hall and the State Theatre Centre, as well as appearing live on ABC TV, and Telethon.

James has held a position in the trombone section of the Mace Francis Orchestra for over four years and undertook a national tour with this band in 2011 in which they were the headline act for the Devenport Jazz Festival. James has also held several positions in the trombone section of the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra over five years and has toured to Melbourne (2011), Sydney and Albury (2012) Brisbane and Noosa playing the Noosa Jazz Festival (2013), and Melbourne/Tasmania (2014) with WAYJO. In addition to these tours, he represented WAYJO in Japan on an exchange program/tour undertaken in March and November of 2014.

James embarked on an East Coast Tour with his own band JC5 in July 2014. The band played at Conduit Arts and Uptown Jazz Cafe in Melbourne, Smith’s Alternative Bookshop in Canberra, and Foundry 616 with Jazzgroove in Sydney, and recieved raving reviews from excited new fans on the east coast. He also released a live EP on the 17th of September 2014 at Ya Ya’s in Northbridge, comprising of recordings from the band’s show in Canberra. James also led an all Japanese band playing his own originals and arrangements for a gig at “Ginz’ jazz club in Tokyo in March of 2015, and appeared on several dates as a guest performer for Mace Francis’ Nonet tour to Japan in the same month.

James has extensive musical theatre experience having played in the musicals “Anything Goes” (2010 and 2012), “Crazy For You” (2011), “The Pajama Game” (2013), “Guys and Dolls” (2013), “How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” (2012) and “Hello Dolly” (2014). James also held the position of Principal Trombone on the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Legend of The Seas throught August, September and October in 2015, playing both stage shows and guest entertainers, as well as jazz big band and small group sets.

In addition to playing music James has also composed and arranged for a wide variety of musical settings. He was also Musical Director for Marnie Kent’s “Trilogy” show in October 2015. He has also taught trombone and lower brass at Hale School, Ursula Frayne Catholic College, and La Salle College, piano at The International School of Music in Churchlands, and takes private students in trombone, piano, and music theory.

Testimonials:

“His professionalism and arranging skills are nothing short of remarkable” – Marnie Kent (vocalist)

“James always taught with a high degree of professionalism, with a passion for music and for his students” – Su-Lyn Chong (Director of Music at Hale School)

“A committed and passionate musician who is very much in demand with many other ensembles, of varying music styles” – Mace Francis

James Cross

James Cross, Bmus (jazz), is a versatile and accomplished musician based in Perth, Western Australia. He received a Bachelor of Jazz Performance (Trombone) from the WA Academy of Performing Arts in 2013, where he studied under world renowned saxophonist Jamie Oehlers. James is a talented soloist in the jazz idiom, but has also spent countless hours on stage and in the studio with funk, rock, indie, salsa, samba, jazz and hip hop groups, and is renowned around Australia for being an adaptable and flexible musician.

James has played and recorded with music legends such as Kate Ceberano (with the Perth International Jazz Festival All Star Big Band), Tony award winning Broadway star Faith Prince (NYC), Australia’s very own Phantom of the Opera – Anthony Warlow, Drapht, Meg Mac, Ed Neumeister (Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra), Fred Wesley (James Brown Band), The Cape Town Opera Company’s “Voices of the Nation” choir, Jim McNeely (Vanguard Jazz Orchestra), Darcy James Argue, Frank Tortillier, Alison Wedding and Jim Rotondi, Nueva Salsa Orchestra, Oz Big Band, Samba Social Club, Hang on St. Christopher (supporting Matt Corby), Coin Banks (Groovin’ The Moo Festival), Marksman, and Optamus, as well as Australian jazz greats Jamie Oehlers, Troy Roberts, Dave Theak, Carl Mackey, Matt Jodrell, Chris Greive, Ben Vanderwall, Tim Wilson, James Sandon, Pete Jeavons and Chris Tarr. James has also recorded live on ABC Radio several times from both the Perth Concert Hall and the State Theatre Centre, as well as appearing live on ABC TV, and Telethon.

James has held a position in the trombone section of the Mace Francis Orchestra for over four years and undertook a national tour with this band in 2011 in which they were the headline act for the Devenport Jazz Festival. James has also held several positions in the trombone section of the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra over five years and has toured to Melbourne (2011), Sydney and Albury (2012) Brisbane and Noosa playing the Noosa Jazz Festival (2013), and Melbourne/Tasmania (2014) with WAYJO. In addition to these tours, he represented WAYJO in Japan on an exchange program/tour undertaken in March and November of 2014.

James embarked on an East Coast Tour with his own band JC5 in July 2014. The band played at Conduit Arts and Uptown Jazz Cafe in Melbourne, Smith’s Alternative Bookshop in Canberra, and Foundry 616 with Jazzgroove in Sydney, and recieved raving reviews from excited new fans on the east coast. He also released a live EP on the 17th of September 2014 at Ya Ya’s in Northbridge, comprising of recordings from the band’s show in Canberra. James also led an all Japanese band playing his own originals and arrangements for a gig at “Ginz’ jazz club in Tokyo in March of 2015, and appeared on several dates as a guest performer for Mace Francis’ Nonet tour to Japan in the same month.

James has extensive musical theatre experience having played in the musicals “Anything Goes” (2010 and 2012), “Crazy For You” (2011), “The Pajama Game” (2013), “Guys and Dolls” (2013), “How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” (2012) and “Hello Dolly” (2014). James also held the position of Principal Trombone on the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Legend of The Seas throught August, September and October in 2015, playing both stage shows and guest entertainers, as well as jazz big band and small group sets.

In addition to playing music James has also composed and arranged for a wide variety of musical settings. He was also Musical Director for Marnie Kent’s “Trilogy” show in October 2015. He has also taught trombone and lower brass at Hale School, Ursula Frayne Catholic College, and La Salle College, piano at The International School of Music in Churchlands, and takes private students in trombone, piano, and music theory.

Testimonials:

“His professionalism and arranging skills are nothing short of remarkable” – Marnie Kent (vocalist)

“James always taught with a high degree of professionalism, with a passion for music and for his students” – Su-Lyn Chong (Director of Music at Hale School)

“A committed and passionate musician who is very much in demand with many other ensembles, of varying music styles” – Mace Francis

Qualifications -

• Bachelor of Music (Jazz Performance)

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