FRAMEWORKS
Film
Bio
James composed additional music and arranged and produced the score for the award winning film Spotlight. Previously James spent 3 years working with director Peter Jackson and composer Howard Shore, orchestrating and arranging the music for The Hobbit Trilogy.
With a versatile background in many musical styles, he has ranged from the big broadway musical numbers written for the recent OJ:The Musical to the ambient soundscapes heard in David Cronenberg’s films Maps to the Stars and Cosmopolis. His versatility can also be heard in Jon Stewart’s film Rosewater, where ethnic Persian soloists intermingle with hip-hop and rock influences.
James has served on the faculty of New York University and the City University of New York, teaching classes on film sound and music. He lives in the Hudson Valley, NY with his wife and daughters.
News
My Superheroes, a father & daughter duet
I started piano lessons when I was in 2nd grade and had wonderful support from my family who always encouraged my musical endeavors. (My father has some good stories about my early piano recitals, send me an email and I'll tell you! 🤣) I wanted to encourage my...
The Creative Process
In this video, get a behind the scenes look at my creative process. See how a musical idea transforms from a simple piano sketch, to a computer emulation, to a live performance, and finally to the studio mix. If you want to see more behind the scenes videos, check out...
Home, a gift for the Holidays.
See the live performance video of NYC's preeminent choral group, The Essential Voices USA perform my piece Home. It is inspired by the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, who said “There is no way to happiness, Happiness is the way”. During the winter holidays, families...
JS
Contact
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