Featuring:

Chris Anderson-Lundy - alto saxophone
James Addis - piano
Will Dietrich - acoustic bass
Jon Catanus - drums

Arrangements by yours truly. Performed live at Walter Hall in Toronto at the Duke Ellington Society's annual concert in April 2018. 

Thank you to Bruce Barton and everyone at TDES for their generosity in featuring students like us every year at their annual concert. Thank you to Barry Elmes for putting my name forward for this fabulous opportunity. And of course, a huge thank you to Chris, Will, and Jon for their friendship, their outstanding playing, and their significant effort in learning these tough arrangements I created.

Fleurette Africaine (Quartet - Live - 2018)

The Mooche (Quartet - Live - 2018)

Gene Harris. I can't help lovin' that man and his passionate and joyful playing! My personal favourite recording of Gene is an outstanding version of this song from Ray Brown's "Live at the Loa" recording (which also features Jeff Hamilton on drums). My solo recording is no "imitation" of Gene's style (nor would I want it to be!) but I think of it as a small tribute to Gene in my own style, and it borrows heavily from the arrangement of the song recorded at the Loa.

The song was composed by Jerome Kern. Recorded on my home piano in June 2022.

Can't Help Lovin' That Man (Solo - 2022)

Dedicated to the memories of Wayne Shorter, who composed this tune, and Chick Corea, a favourite pianist of mine whose style I drew from significantly during this recording. They may be no longer physically with us, but their wisdom and artistry will always be! Rest in peace, Wayne and Chick.

Footprints (Solo - 2023)

Featuring myself on piano in a duo with myself on "jazz guitar". The "guitar" is actually a sound on some Yamaha keyboards (from the XG sound set) called "JazzAmp" – in my opinion, it does a remarkable job of sounding like a typical jazz guitar.

Years ago, following the advice of Owen Sound pianist, saxophonist, and organist Don Buchanan, I started experimenting with playing using a guitar sound to simultaneously cover bass and piano parts in big band rehearsals when the bass player was absent. Don's tip was that the low end of most guitar keyboard patches sounds like a bass – very clever. I so enjoyed playing with the JazzAmp guitar sound, I soon found myself using it for solos and to cover vocal parts for a lark, even when the bass player was there.

I realized I improvised differently using the guitar sound: different phrasing, more use of space, different note choices, and fun bluesy licks that sound outstanding on a "guitar" (especially when you have a pitch bender!). I was channelling my inner Peter Bernstein or Dan Wilson or something! Very fun.

This version of "Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You" ended up being a nice document of how I play using a guitar sound... not to mention a fun chance to get verrry bluesy on the piano. It was highly impromptu: the idea unexpectedly came to me while recording some solo tracks, and I quickly laid down the piano in one take then recorded the "guitar" on top in one take. Enjoy!

Mum CD 2020 mp3

Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You (2020)

One of the most beautiful melodies of all time, composed by George Gershwin. I thought up the arrangement (using the pedal point intro and pedal point during the first statement of the melody) just minutes before this recording, which documents my first ever try at playing the song in this way. I remember feeling very inspired and being in a deep creative "flow" state while playing. Although there are a couple small mistakes, I'm very pleased by how this turned out, in general. Since then, I've continued using this arrangement and the song has become my favourite ballad to play. Enjoy this recording on my home piano from June 2020!

SoundCloud Uploads 2020

Someone to Watch Over Me (Solo - 2020)

Composed by the wonderful pianist and composer Abdullah Ibrahim. Recorded in June 2023 on my home keyboard.

Water From An Ancient Well (Solo - 2023)

Featuring the amazing talents of Dan Diaz on bass. Composed by Luiz Bonfa. Recorded at my home on April 28, 2019.

Jam Dan Diaz April 28 2019

Black Orpheus (Duo - 2019)

Featuring the amazing talents of Dan Diaz on bass. Composed by Bronisław Kaper. Recorded at my home on June 12, 2018.

Duo Jam with Dan Diaz June 12 2018

On Green Dolphin Street (Duo - 2018)

Featuring the amazing talents of Dan Diaz on bass. Composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim. Recorded at my home on June 12, 2018.

Please excuse the creaking of the piano bench, the dog walking around and rattling his collar (my family's beautiful beagle, Bobby), and other background noise. Despite these imperfections in the recording, the playing by Dan and I was strong enough that I wanted to share. Enjoy!

How Insensitive (Duo - 2018)

Featuring:
James Addis (piano)
Peter Eratostene (bass)
Jon Catanus (drums)

Composed by Herbie Hancock. Recorded in Peter's dad's home studio, Jan 2 2017.

Session Jan 2 2017 Better Mixes 2

Tell Me A Bedtime Story (Trio - 2017)

Composed by Jeff Hamilton. Arrangement based on his version.

Live from Centrum Jazz Port Townsend.

Featuring:
James Addis - piano
Finn Jones - bass
Jamie Scriver - drums

PT Gig 2017

Sybille's Day (Trio - Live - 2017)

Featuring:
James Addis - piano
Peter Eratostene - bass

Composed by the great Oscar Peterson, who dedicated this wonderful blues to his wife Kelly. One of my favourite tunes! Recorded in Nov 2017.

Today, Kelly Peterson keeps Oscar's spirit and legacy burning brighter than ever before, including producing the incredible 'Oscar, With Love' CD and being the Artistic Producer of the Oscar Peterson Jazz Festival.

Duo Recordings Nov 2017 low quality mp3

Kelly's Blues (Duo - 2017)

Featuring:
James Addis - solo piano

Composed by the great Oscar Peterson. Recorded on my home piano in Dec 2017.

In my opinion, this is one of the most beautiful songs ever written. What an amazing melody! I always really enjoy playing it, and it's fun to try different ways of approaching the tune - that's exactly what I did here.

Solo Winter 2017 mp3

Hymn to Freedom (Solo - 2017)

Visit James' website at www.jamesaddis.ca
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James Addis is a dynamic up-and-coming jazz pianist who regularly appears solo, with his own trio, and as a sideman in various projects. Since first becoming interested in jazz at the age of 9 after seeing the Esbjörn Svensson Trio perform live, James’ love for the music has only intensified – he has developed a strong personal voice, inventiveness and sophistication which makes his performances, arrangements and original compositions uniquely identifiable. What truly sets James apart is his “big sound”, engaging and exciting the audience in the bluesy tradition of Oscar Peterson, Monty Alexander, and Gene Harris.

James has played at Koerner Hall, Toronto Centre for the Arts, the Mod Club, Hugh’s Room, the Home Smith Bar, and many other venues across Ontario. He is honoured to have performed with Chris Potter, Barry Elmes, Aura Rully, Steve McDade, Mike Murley, Drew Jurecka, Jack McFadden, and Wendy Lands. A student at York University, James has studied with greats like Jeff Hamilton, Michael Occhipinti, Frank Falco, and Mark Eisenman. He was thrilled to be featured at the 2018 Toronto Duke Ellington Society Gala Concert and to be selected for the inaugural 2018 TD Toronto Jazz Festival Jazz Musician Intensive. James is humbled to have been awarded numerous scholarships, including the York University Oscar Peterson Scholarship MTCU.

James Addis

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