New Music Commissions for soloists, ensembles and orchestras. James Brown has composed music for numerous artists including Jeffrey McFadden, The Montreal Guitar Trio, The University of Toronto Guitar Ensemble, Orchestra Toronto, Trinity Chamber Ensemble and William Beauvais.
Music page
Arranging and Score Preparation for various styles and instrumentations. Document and present your music with professionally prepared charts industry ready for the concert stage or recording studio.
Professional looking lead sheets (with lyrics)
scores and parts for any style of music.
Ideal for songwriters wishing to record and perform their own music.
Beginning his studies with Richard Bradley at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto James Brown made his first major concert appearance at the international festival Guitar 87. During this event he was introduced to the classical guitar world and to such luminaries such as Leo Brouwer, John Williams and the great pedagogue Aaron Shearer, (the later was in the audience at Jame’s recital commenting on the gifted young players “musical playing”.) Further studies included master classes with David Russell, Leo Brouwer (at Eli Kasner’s guitar academy) and Marcello Kayath.
After beginning studies with Norbert Kraft at the University of Toronto James was lured by the mysteries of jazz improvisation as well as his passion for composing original music. Throughout the late 80s and 90s he would go on to develop his skills as a jazz player while continuing to serve his love of the classical guitar by producing numerous works for guitar in various configurations including music for solo, duo, trio and guitar ensemble. Three Sketches for Guitar Ensemble was premiered by Jeffrey McFadden and the University of Toronto guitar ensemble as was the composition Three Themes by Lennon and McCartney. In 1996 the Montreal Guitar Trio toured with his work Three Phases of a Dance which was recorded by the CBC. Other solo pieces were performed such as Sonata 1998 by Danielle Cummings, Homage to Leo Brouwer and Three Impromptus by Jeffrey McFadden, and Good News (from Three Folk Studies) by Michael Bracken (recorded on Bracken’s 1995 ATMA release.
As a dedicated teacher James has produced countless arrangements for student guitar ensembles and has many solo pieces in the Royal Conservatory guitar publications and in the institutions examination syllabus. Many of James’ compositions blend jazz influences with classical sensibilities. This duality was further developed in 2019 when James composed The Mosley Street Suite as part of his Master of Composition thesis under the guidance of Al Henderson at York University. The work was premiered at Koerner Hall in 2021 and featured the composer as both electric and classical guitarist along side an ensemble featuring Dave Restivo, Ernie Tollar, Mark Duggan, Aline Homzy, Andrew Downing and Anthony Michelli. His four albums (First Dance, The Home Fields, Sevendaze and Song Within the Story) of original jazz music feature many jazz players including Don Thompson, Mike Murley, Jim Vivian, Quinsin Nachoff and Clark Johnston. James appears as a classical player and arranger on the 2011 release Bailar Conmigo with flutist Christopher Lee and the 2023 recording Six Plus Four, a jazz collaboration with bass player Mike Milligan.
James continues to create engaging music that blend elements jazz improvisation and classical guitar. He is on Faculty at the Oscar Peterson School of Music in Toronto, Canada where he teaches guitar, composition and jazz improvisation.
List of works that include guitar
Three Impromptus (1989) solo guitar
Variations on a Canadian Folk Song (1989) solo guitar
Variations on Ode to Joy (1996) two guitars
Sarabande (1994) solo guitar
Toronto Folk Song (1992) solo guitar
A Homage to Leo Brouwer (1995) solo guitar
(A Short Homage to Leo Brouwer)
Three Folk Studies (1994) solo guitar
Three Phases of a Dance (1996) Three Guitars
The Tenth Street Collection (1997) solo guitar
Three Themes by Lennon and McCartney (1996) guitar ensemble
Three sketches for Guitar Ensemble (1995)
Sonata (1998) solo guitar
Threnody for September Eleventh (2001) two guitars
Suite in Six Parts 1996-revised (2023) two guitars
Short Pieces and Studies Volume One solo guitar
Short Pieces and Studies Volume Two
Four Pretudes (2015) solo guitar
The Mosley Street Suite (2021) chamber ensemble