James Mainwaring

  James Mainwaring is a saxophonist who graduated from Leeds College of Music with a first class BA(hons) Jazz degree where he was 2009/10 winner of The George Murphy Trophy for Jazz Saxophone and from the University of York where he was awarded an MA (distinction) in Composition. Born in Warrington he received piano lessons from his mother at the age of four, then throughout high school sang in rock/metal bands and played in the school swing band. When he was seventeen he found his love for improvisation, joining Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra. Now James is working as a performer, composer and teacher in many musical styles. His current projects include Roller Trio who won the 2011 Peter Whittingham Jazz Award, Space Fight with Polish digital composer and sound artist Radoslaw Rudnick and his quartet with Nik Svarc, Mick Bardon and Joost Hendrickx. James also performs as a soloist experimenting with sax improvisations accompanying himself with extended technique and with the use of electronics.