Biography
Jim Staley distinguishes himself among trombonists through fluid movement between post-modern classical music and avant-garde jazz. His exceptional command allows clusters of notes to erupt at high velocity, most often voiced in the mid-to-lower registers where a robust, coarse timbre recalls earlier periods even as his inventive phrasing and command keep him rooted in free music. Born and raised in Illinois, he completed military service in a U.S. Army Band stationed in Berlin, then obtained both Bachelor and Masters degrees in music from the University of Illinois in the late 1970s. Since settling in lower Manhattan in 1978 he has performed and recorded regularly with boundary-pushing figures including composer/alto saxophonist John Zorn, guitarist Elliott Sharp, and vocalist Shelley Hirsch. In addition to leading his own sessions, he appears on multiple Zorn recordings and maintains an ongoing association with the classical ensemble Tone Road Ramblers.
Albums
