Jim Mayr -- Baritone Sax, Clarinet, Flute

Saxophonist Jim Mayr performs extensively on all the saxophones, plus flute, clarinet, and drums; he also plays piano and guitar for his own pleasure. In addition to freelancing in the jazz, rock, and R&B genres, Jim is currently the Customer Service Representative for the woodwind accessories company, Silverstein Works.

Jim has over 20 years of performance experience, including extensive playing for clubs, weddings and festivals. Two notable performances: playing bari sax with the house big band at the world famous Cotton Club in Harlem; and with The Fabulous Johnson Brothers, which attained a Top 20 rank in 19 Entertainment’s syndicated FOX television show, “The Next Great American Band.” In addition, Jim plays in pit orchestras, including Ohio State University’s production of The Rocky Horror Show. Jim has performed with Foley (bass player for Miles Davis and drummer for George Clinton), as well as in the bands of Ed Palermo and the late Frank Grasso. He also spent a year as director of the jazz big band, The Swing Machine.

Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Jim has completed coursework at the Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts for their Master of Jazz Performance program. His teachers have included Ralph Bowen, Robert “Tigger” Benford, Stanley Cowell, Conrad Herwig, Joe Magnarelli, Richard E. Miller, Lewis Porter, David Riekenberg, Tim Ries and Charles Tolliver. His primary teachers in Columbus included Kris Keith, Bryan Olsheski and Vaughn Weister. He also studied jazz at DePauw University (Greencastle, IN) under Jim Connerley and Randy Salman.

In the spirit of “paying it forward,” Jim is now a teacher himself. He has taught both private lessons and in the classroom, spanning all skill levels from preschoolers—he is Music Together certified—to retired adults. Jim specializes in helping students speak the musical language with a vibrant and authentic sound. He is particularly interested in the skill of perfect (absolute) pitch, both for himself and teaching it to others. He developed and taught a unique curriculum that combines absolute pitch, French language and musical fluency in early childhood education classes.

Jim also dabbles in graphic arts design. His life’s great artistic vision includes melding advanced improvisational techniques with technology, and he is currently looking to collaborate with like-minded, jazz-influenced electronic musicians.